Seeking Fortune and Avoiding Misfortune: Starting from the Celestial Master’s Mansion
Chapter 283: A Gift for "White Moonlight"

Ye Liang currently had no intention of taking action.

On a public level, the Cangzhou Ye Clan’s current overarching strategy was to remain low-key, recuperate, and avoid becoming a target.

Back when Xu Yuanzhen fought Ye Moquan, regardless of what happened behind the scenes, on the surface, it was presented as a private duel.

Once the battle was over, the matter was settled—skill was inferior, nothing more to say.

Given the current situation, the Cangzhou Ye Clan would not easily provoke external conflicts again, at least not publicly, avoiding any excuse for others to act against them. Furthermore, with the Western Region’s Buddhist sects, the Mortal Dao Nation, and the Nine Li people all emerging, they had even shifted toward mending relations with the Tang Imperial Court.

What happened beneath the surface was another matter.

On a personal level, Ye Liang also had no intention of provoking Lei Jun at this time.

Though he was a Seventh Heaven divine archer, capable of merging light into arrows, condensing Qi into an edge, and sniping targets from extreme distances, Lei Jun had already proven himself to be a powerhouse among Seventh Heaven cultivators.

Even though Ye Liang had yet to learn of Elder Tao Zhun of the Blood River Sect’s fate, the precedent of Lin Chi from Jiangzhou and Qi Shuo from the Yellow Heaven Sect was already there for all to see.

Perhaps a Confucian divine archer could maintain an advantage by controlling distance and avoiding the close-range combat of the Tianshi Mansion’s Doumu Star God Apparition, but Ye Liang himself was not fully confident in landing a fatal shot on Lei Jun.

Since that was the case, he naturally wouldn’t make a move.

Otherwise, once his identity was exposed, it would only provide an excuse for the Tang Imperial Court and the Tianshi Mansion to retaliate—something that directly opposed the Cangzhou Ye Clan’s current strategy.

That said, Ye Liang was keen to observe and learn more about this rising young high priest of the Tianshi Mansion.

Like Xu Yuanzhen and Tang Xiaotang, that tall young Daoist could no longer be considered a mere rising star.

Lei Chongyun had firmly established himself as one of the central figures of the Tianshi Mansion.

If not for his late entry into the Dao and the fact that he started cultivation at an older age, people would already be speculating whether he could reach the Eighth Heaven before the age of fifty… Ye Liang mused inwardly.

But even so, it was almost inevitable that Lei Jun would break through to the Eighth Heaven. The only question was when—unless he perished in the Heavenly Chasm Tribulation between the Seventh and Eighth Heavens.

Every few years, this man underwent earth-shattering transformations.

Ye Liang and his peers reflected on how they had underestimated Lei Jun in the past, allowing him to gain significant momentum.

From Ye Liang’s personal perspective, he even believed that Lei Jun’s future influence might surpass that of Xu Yuanzhen and Tang Xiaotang.

Those two were too unpredictable, their personalities too volatile.

As individuals, they were remarkable, their potential seemingly far from exhausted.

But when it came to leading a Daoist holy land, they were more suited as guardians rather than helmsmen.

Even after over a decade as Tianshi, neither Ye Moquan, Ye Wei, nor Ye Liang himself saw Tang Xiaotang as the best candidate to lead the Tianshi Mansion after Li Qingfeng. Instead, they had always believed the rightful successor, once he reached the Eighth Heaven, should be Yuan Mobai.

Yet for all Yuan Mobai’s strengths, he had one fatal flaw—one that ultimately caused him to miss his chance at becoming Tianshi.

The past could not be changed. If Yuan Mobai had taken the mantle of Tianshi, the fate of the Li Clan in Xinzhou might have been entirely different… Ye Liang pondered silently.

And now, Yuan Mobai’s disciple, Lei Jun—Lei Chongyun—had emerged as a promising new candidate.

Unlike Yuan Mobai, he showed no obvious weaknesses.

If Lei Jun reached the Eighth Heaven,

The mistake of underestimating him had to be corrected…

Hiding his presence, Ye Liang silently trailed behind Lei Jun.

Even if there was no immediate opportunity to eliminate him, Ye Liang was determined to gather more intel, preparing for the future.

He was an expert in concealment, frequently traversing the Southern Wastelands, intimately familiar with the terrain. He melded seamlessly into the mountain forest.

Up ahead, Lei Jun continued forward without summoning his Illusory Mirror, relying solely on his Heaven-Ground Unification Talisman to sense that Ye Liang’s presence was fading.

If the latter harbored no explicit killing intent or aggressive moves, his presence indeed remained well-hidden.

A fleeting smile crossed Lei Jun’s lips before he continued on his way as if nothing had happened.

There was still some time before midnight. Lei Jun reached the area of Zhuoqing Mountain.

The wilderness lay in absolute silence.

Lei Jun’s expression remained calm as he gazed at the sky—the moon shone brightly.

A sword hums beneath the moonlight.

A Fourth-Grade Opportunity, he noted, though one entangled with karmic complications…

Lei Jun made his way to the northern slope of Zhuoqing Mountain, strolling leisurely.

In the moonlit woods, the purple-robed Daoist appeared as if he were merely out for a nighttime stroll.

Ye Liang, still following him, reached the northern slope as well.

But seeing Lei Jun’s actions, he felt puzzled.

With the chaos in the Southern Wastelands, coupled with the rumors swirling between the Mortal Dao Nation, the Western Region Buddhist sects, and the Tianshi faction, Lei Daozhang shouldn’t have the leisure for such outings.

Was he here for a secret meeting?

Or was there another reason?

The abnormality of the scene made Ye Liang both curious and wary—had Lei Jun already detected him?

As someone who frequently gathered intelligence for the Cangzhou Ye Clan, Ye Liang had honed his awareness to anticipate defeat before achieving victory.

But…

Times had changed!

A recent memory surfaced in Ye Liang’s mind—his meeting with Ye Dongming of the Shushan Sect.

The reason he was acting alone now was precisely because he had arranged a secret meeting with Ye Dongming.

Their initial public meeting had ended in failure.

Now, even their second private meeting had not gone smoothly. Just thinking about it made Ye Liang frown.

"Fifteenth Brother, dealing with both the Mortal Dao Nation and Shushan at once is risky, but in these chaotic times, it’s better to prepare in advance."

"So, Cangzhou’s stance is that even abandoning family traditions and sending a branch of the clan—or more—to places like the Mortal Dao Nation is acceptable?" Ye Dongming asked. "Was this inspired by the Li Clan of Xinzhou’s fate?"

"To be honest, yes," Ye Liang admitted. "Preserving the family comes before preserving the teachings. If we must take Daoist scriptures as our family canon to survive, so be it. But that is only a last resort."

Ye Dongming: "Then you can seek out Fu Dongsen, Rong Guangchen, and others. Just know that when the time comes, we will be enemies, not allies."

Ye Liang frowned. "Fifteenth Brother—"

Ye Dongming’s expression remained serene. His voice was calm and steady: "I supported Fu Dongsen early on because I believed in opening Shushan’s doors to reform rather than remaining stagnant in the mountains. But I never intended to establish a Mortal Dao Nation. It is not my wish, and for Shushan, it would bring calamity. I was blind to their true intentions before, but now, I will not follow them."

Ye Liang studied him for a long moment before nodding. "I understand your stance. I will report this to the clan."

—

That meeting had ended in discord.

Shortly after, Ye Liang unexpectedly encountered Lei Jun’s presence.

Now, here at Zhuoqing Mountain, he felt an ominous premonition.

Before he could act, the silent mountains suddenly trembled slightly.

Ye Liang was startled, then saw something rising from the northern slope of Zhuoqing Mountain—black mist, darker than the night itself.

It originated from the Land Sea of the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths.

His shock turned to certainty—this was not Lei Jun’s doing.

Was the Daoist searching for the Nine Li people?

He should be more focused on the Mortal Dao Nation and the Tianshi faction, shouldn’t he?

The unexpected development forced Ye Liang to adjust his position.

But he remained hidden, continuing to observe Lei Jun.

It wasn't Ye Liang who had entered, but rather someone emerging from the Land Sea on the other side of the Deep Red Rift—a figure stepping into the human realm through this newly opened Void Portal.

Since Lei Jun was in the midst of retrieving the Purple Micro Sword Light, his body couldn’t conceal itself as well as usual.

The newcomer had already noticed him and was approaching.

However, after closing in to a certain distance, the figure suddenly halted.

Lei Jun, having adapted to the black mist, activated the Heaven-Ground Unification Talisman, a glow flickering within his eyes.

The figure was to his right.

He neither turned his head nor shifted his gaze.

Instead, his Illusory Mirror quietly manifested, its light dimming to conceal its own brightness.

Through the mirror’s reflection, a silhouette began to take shape in his vision.

The person stood amidst the black mist, making it difficult to discern their skin tone. However, their tall stature was apparent—only slightly shorter than Tang Xiaotang, making them appear strikingly fit and athletic.

Their attire was intricate, exuding an ancient aura, yet crafted with far greater refinement—precisely matching prior descriptions of the Nine Li people.

Strange, paint-like markings floated across their face, mysterious and eerie.

But what struck Lei Jun the most were their eyes.

Amidst the black mist, their gaze faintly flickered with a red glow—another defining characteristic of the Nine Li people. Yet, in those crimson irises, Lei Jun saw nothing but cold ruthlessness and the scent of blood.

And at this moment, that piercing gaze was locked onto him.

A Nine Li Grand Shaman, likely on par with a Southern Wasteland Witch Sect cultivator at the Upper Three Heavens realm.

She must have sensed the newly opened portal to the human realm from the Land Sea and come to investigate—only to run into Lei Jun mid-retrieval of the Purple Micro Sword Light.

The female Nine Li Grand Shaman said nothing, her demeanor that of a cold and silent hunter, slowly closing in on her prey.

Once she reached an optimal distance, she stopped.

Then, she began to dance.

Within the black mist, bizarre mystical energy silently spread, swiftly forming an enormous ghostly sacrificial array over the Deep Red Rift.

Her target?

To trap Lei Jun inside.

Lei Jun, appearing indifferent, was in fact observing with keen interest.

Unlike the Godly Dance lineage of Gepo Mountain from the Southern Wasteland Witch Sect, the Nine Li had their own unique Ghostly Ritual Dance—which manifested an array formation.

What intrigued him further was the long spear slung across the woman’s back.

There was no need to guess—she was undoubtedly skilled in close-quarters combat.

She was vicious and bloodthirsty, but she hadn’t recklessly charged in.

Instead, she first laid down the Ghostly Ritual Array, ensuring a favorable battleground, before planning her next move.

A composed and calculated predator.

Lei Jun examined the power and aura of her array, comparing it to the rituals of Gepo Mountain.

Indeed, it had its own distinct characteristics—this array was clearly meant to enhance her close-combat prowess, securing an advantage in battle.

Within the sacrificial array, the shadows of ghostly deities gradually took form.

From a distance, they vaguely resembled humans, yet their heads bore horns, and their multiple arms wielded various weapons.

Among them—long spears.

As the Ghostly Ritual Array solidified, the real long spear on the female Nine Li Grand Shaman’s back began to glow, its aura turning even more fierce and menacing.

She stopped her ritual dance and resumed her approach.

The Nine Li people could see and sense freely within the black mist.

Her crimson eyes remained fixed on Lei Jun’s side profile.

At the same time, she reached back, grasping her long spear, preparing to charge.

Yet at that moment—

She saw Lei Jun, who had seemed so preoccupied with greedily claiming his treasure, suddenly lift his right hand and make a gesture toward her.

Two fingers.

As if he were pinching something between them.

In the black mist, a flash of mystic gold light flickered.

He sees me?!

An arrow? Or something else?

Even through the black mist and the sacrificial array, can he still aim at me?!

As the thought crossed her mind, she instinctively prepared to dodge, simultaneously lifting her long spear for defense.

But—

"Bang!"

Her entire body trembled violently.

As if something had struck her.

Her head remained intact—

But a blood-red hole had appeared right in the center of her forehead.

Her entire back skull burst open, flesh and blood scattering into the air!

The sheer suddenness, speed, precision, and power of this attack—

Far beyond her expectations.

Even with the Ghostly Ritual Array enhancing her abilities, even with her strength multiplied, had she known her opponent possessed such frightening perception and deadly accuracy, she would not have been caught so easily.

The cold, ruthless hunter had made one critical mistake.

And in doing so, she had gone from hunter—

To prey.

Everything happened in an instant.

The ghostly figures within the array, the sacrificial markings, all still lingered over the Deep Red Rift—

But they were now rootless, empty projections.

The Nine Li woman continued to glare at Lei Jun, her crimson eyes filled with frozen rage.

Yet her body toppled backward, crashing onto the blackened earth.

Lei Jun remained focused on retrieving the Purple Micro Sword Light, calmly lowering his right hand.

If time had permitted, he would have been interested in testing the mysteries of the Nine Li inheritance through direct combat.

But midnight was approaching, and the retrieval of the Purple Micro Sword Light took priority.

So he had no desire to waste time.

Swiftly eliminating the Nine Li Grand Shaman and securing his prize, Lei Jun did not linger.

He methodically erased his own tracks using the Dark Side of the Heavenly Book, but he deliberately left behind the Nine Li woman's corpse.

Once finished, Lei Jun turned to retrieve his Mystic Gold Sword Pellet.

Ordinarily, it should have returned to him automatically at this distance—but the black mist had interfered.

Lei Jun nodded slightly, acknowledging the mist's unique properties.

With the Purple Micro Sword Light in hand, the time and place were not ideal for thorough examination.

He set it aside for now.

Then, before exiting the black mist—

Lei Jun adjusted his own state using the Dark Side of the Heavenly Book.

His intricate control of this ability had improved significantly, ensuring it would not actually weaken his cultivation.

Yet—

From the outside, his entire being appeared drastically different.

His once calm and stable energy became wildly chaotic.

His spiritual aura fluctuated, his mana weakened, and even his physical vitality declined.

His mental state appeared utterly drained.

He looked as if he had suffered severe internal injuries, his body ravaged by exhaustion.

Like a man on the verge of collapse.

Exiting the black mist, Lei Jun emerged beneath the moonlit sky—

And Ye Liang, still waiting outside, was stunned.

Seeing the "critically injured" Lei Jun staggering out but not leaving, instead sitting cross-legged to meditate and heal, Ye Liang's thoughts raced.

This state… This moment… How could he NOT take a shot?

Yet, the mystery of the black mist kept Ye Liang on edge.

Lei Jun quickly recovered, his complexion improving, before re-entering the black mist.

Ye Liang's heart pounded.

If Lei Jun was in perfect condition, he wouldn’t dare attack.

But a heavily wounded Lei Jun?

That was a different story.

Ye Liang drew his bow, calming his breath.

He adjusted his position, moving to a higher vantage point, ensuring Lei Jun wouldn’t escape his sight no matter which way he exited.

In his eyes—

The brilliant arrowhead gleamed with deadly precision.

Target: Lei Jun.

Fate would soon be decided.

However…

Lei Jun, at that very moment, had pushed his stealth abilities to their absolute limit.

A multitude of techniques, each complementing the other.

Once inside the black mist, he reversed the Dark Side of the Heavenly Book, instantly restoring his true state.

Then, Lei Jun exited the mist from an entirely different direction.

This time, he moved slowly.

But his entire presence seemed to meld into Zhuoqing Mountain itself.

For the sake of absolute concealment, he didn’t even bother actively searching for Ye Liang.

It didn’t matter.

If it worked—it worked.

If it didn’t—he’d handle it later.

With this mindset, Lei Jun carefully completed his preparations, then left the northern slopes of Zhuoqing Mountain—calm and composed.

—

Meanwhile, Ye Liang remained completely focused.

Bowstring drawn, his entire being locked onto the black mist below, awaiting Lei Jun’s emergence.

Then—

Midnight struck.

The previously stagnant black mist suddenly expanded, engulfing the entire northern slope of Zhuoqing Mountain!

From behind, the ground trembled violently.

Lei Jun did not pause.

He did not turn back.

What happened next had nothing to do with him anymore.

He simply let things take their course.

However, as he distanced himself, he noticed another person approaching from afar.

Through the mist and moonlight, he recognized the newcomer—

Elder Ye Dongming of the Shushan Sect.

Apparently, Ye Dongming had detected Nine Li activity in the area and had come to investigate.

But before he could get close—

The black mist suddenly surged, expanding its reach.

Ye Dongming immediately halted his approach, choosing instead to observe from a distance.

Lei Jun was unaware of Ye Dongming’s prior meeting with Ye Liang, but he was mildly curious about his sudden arrival.

Regardless, if Ye Liang was still somewhere within Zhuoqing Mountain, then whatever happened next—Ye Dongming would serve as a witness.

Lei Jun had originally considered arranging for a third party to witness the events.

Now?

That was no longer necessary.

Behind him, the black mist churned violently.

But Lei Jun no longer cared.

He passed by the visibly uneasy Ye Dongming without saying a word—

And disappeared into the night.

—

Far from Zhuoqing Mountain, Lei Jun finally stopped.

Finding a secluded, secure location, he entered the True-One Altar Grotto-Heaven of the Tianshi Seal.

Only then did he retrieve the Purple Micro Sword Light for a closer examination.

His expression shifted slightly.

The Purple Micro Sword… had sustained damage in the Land Sea.

Lei Jun pondered this discovery.

The sword light he held was incredibly vibrant, almost as if it had been peeled away from the original sword itself.

Yet, that wasn’t necessarily a good thing.

It suggested that the actual Purple Micro Sword had suffered a severe loss of power.

Unfortunately, with the situation in the Land Sea still unclear, it was not the time to attempt a direct retrieval of the sword itself.

Lei Jun shook his head slightly, setting aside the thought for now.

Instead, he released his own original Celestial Seed Purple Light.

Inside the first tier of the True-One Altar, aided by the Nine Abyss True Fire, he began refining the newly obtained Purple Micro Sword Light.

Slowly—

The two purple lights fused into one.

Gradually, it shed its original sword-like form, transforming into a brilliant, flickering celestial star.

Not just any star—

A star radiating the majestic presence of an Emperor Star, presiding over all celestial bodies.

Its energy was immense, yet still unstable, shifting and stretching.

Lei Jun raised a hand—

The Seven-Star Sword materialized, forming the pattern of the Big Dipper in midair.

And the newly formed Celestial Purple Light ascended, taking position at the North Star.

At this moment, the celestial formation made of sword light and star radiance became even more profound—more stable.

Chen Donglou, the previous wielder, had positioned himself at the North Star, commanding the Seven-Star Sword from there.

But what if the Purple Micro Sword itself occupied that position?

Wouldn’t the power of the Seven-Star Sword multiply even further?

Yet—

As Lei Jun studied the Celestial Seed Purple Light, an alternative thought crossed his mind.

He stared at the celestial formation in contemplation.

Moments later, he dispersed the starry light, waving it away.

Then—he fell into deep thought.

—

Until later that night—

A voice suddenly reached him.

Lu Fang.

"Lei Daozhang, where are you right now?"

Lei Jun responded casually, giving the name of a nearby valley.

"Earlier, I found some clues and was following a lead to track members of the Mortal Dao Nation, but unfortunately, there were no further discoveries."

Lu Fang’s voice was urgent:

"Lei Daozhang… something happened at Zhuoqing Mountain!"

"Once again, it was the Nine Li people—just like at Youning Lake."

"Suddenly, a vast black mist spread across the entire northern slopes of Zhuoqing Mountain!"

He hesitated for a moment before adding:

"Shushan Sect’s Elder Ye Dongming was injured."

*"And *Cangzhou’s Ye Wendong… did not survive."

—

Ye Liang.

Courtesy name—Wendong.