Seeking Fortune and Avoiding Misfortune: Starting from the Celestial Master’s Mansion
Chapter 289: Eighth Heaven, Divine Court!

Lei Jun greeted Yuan Mo Bai, Xu Yuan Zhen, Tang Xiao Tang, and others, before asking Wang Gui Yuan and Chu Kun to take over the task of instructing his disciple, Zhuo Bao Jie, for the time being.

Once everything was arranged, he headed towards his private residence in the mountains to begin another round of seclusion.

The Qingling Lei Mansion in the Cave Heaven was indeed a good place, but over the years, Lei Jun had made his own arrangements, especially ones suited to his personal preferences.

Inside his residence, the furnishings were simple. However, the interplay of Yin and Yang energies was remarkable. In addition to aligning with the Taoist principles of the Tian Shi Mansion, such as the harmonization of Yin-Yang and the intersection of the Dragon and Tiger energies, there was also a subtle return to the primal state of the beginning of creation.

Inside, a world within a world existed. In the center of the courtyard, a three-tiered altar stood. The lower part was octagonal, while the upper part was round. At first glance, it seemed unremarkable.

However, when Lei Jun stepped onto the three-tiered altar, a radiance emerged.

The first layer shone in green.

The second layer glowed in gold.

The third layer sparkled in purple.

Lei Jun sat cross-legged atop the altar, focusing his mind to cultivate and meditate.

Below the altar, a law flag stood—this was the Xi Rang Flag.

Suspended above the altar was a treasured mirror—the Xuan Xu Mirror.

On the first layer of the altar, a seven-sectioned green bamboo stood, emitting purple-golden light, reflecting the altar’s green glow. This bamboo was a product of Lei Jun’s own refinement—the Shang Qing Jade Chen Immortal Bamboo.

On the second layer, a row of flying swords hung, arranged in the shape of the Big Dipper. From the center of these swords, faint starlight shone, giving birth to an expansive, mesmerizing star map.

On the third layer, a white jade seal hung—this was the Tian Shi Seal, currently glowing with purple, gold, and green light, interweaving and swirling.

Lei Jun sat still, and above his head, a column of illusory light formed, visible only to him, extending into the universe and resonating with the heavens and earth.

This column, like a glowing pathway, continued to extend upward, already beyond the clouds, into the void of the universe.

Lei Jun’s mind traveled along this path, continuously interacting with and perceiving the profound principles of time, gradually integrating them into his own cultivation.

Time passed swiftly.

At that moment, Lei Jun’s mind seemed to enter a peculiar state beyond thoughts—a state of non-thought and non-non-thought.

At his current level of cultivation, his awareness was exceedingly sharp.

Even in seclusion, as time passed in the alternation of day and night, he was fully aware of every detail.

But in this moment, deeply immersed in his Taoist practices, Lei Jun felt as if he had forgotten the passage of time.

He wasn’t sure how long had passed when suddenly he felt like waking from a great dream. He withdrew from that mysterious state of perception.

The path leading to the universe disappeared at this moment.

Lei Jun opened his eyes, finding himself still within his residence.

The three-tiered altar continued to glow with purple, gold, and green light.

But now, his perception of the outside world was entirely different.

He quietly observed as the natural mysteries of the universe came into his view.

Not just the universe, but even the things close by.

It felt as though all things had a thread of Taoist essence, manifesting as different talismans, explaining their principles before him.

At that time, without relying on any spiritual objects for assistance, he was confident he could pass through the tribulation unharmed.

However, since the Eight Scenic Winds were already in hand and the opportunity had arrived, there was no need to wait any longer.

Lei Jun wandered through the disordered void maze. He could feel the surrounding chaotic and overlapping void, as if the collapsed walls of a maze were continuously closing in on him, attempting to bury him alive.

At this moment, the mysterious and strange Eight Scenic Winds automatically appeared and unfolded.

It resembled an eight-sided screen, and also like eight supports, helping Lei Jun block the space domains collapsing from all directions, while still allowing him to continue forward.

Thus, not only did the void maze not collapse, but the path within it also became distinguishable and seemed to open up.

However, as time passed, the gale began to turn color, tinged with a hint of dark blue.

Lei Jun remained unaffected, calmly continuing forward.

At this moment, various magical abilities and techniques for battling external enemies were of no use.

The tribulation arose from within oneself.

Only by subduing the inner evil could it be passed.

To overcome this heavenly tribulation, which resembled a void maze, the foundation lay in Lei Jun's past cultivation, his understanding and insight into the natural world, and his fundamental technique—the "True Law of the One Way" scripture.

Lei Jun silently recited the scripture, starting from the first volume and ending at the sixth.

Finally, he calmly chanted aloud:

"True law is unchanging, the divine rises."

As he did so, Lei Jun seemed to be traveling through the maze of space.

But everywhere he passed, the maze disappeared, and the void became orderly.

The Eight Scenic Winds around him gradually decreased, though they did not vanish. Instead, they fused with the orderly void, transforming into a tangible palace.

Then, as Lei Jun continued forward, the scenery before him suddenly opened up.

The chaotic, twisted, overlapping void finally disappeared.

Lei Jun turned to look behind him, and there, a vast and expansive dark blue void lay before him, encompassing all things.

The scene before him changed. After a brief moment of steadying himself, it felt as though he had returned to his own cave dwelling from the void.

Around him, the dark blue Eight Scenic Winds continued to swirl.

Though still full of spirit, they no longer had the miraculous effect of assisting Daoist talisman practitioners or helping Seventh Heaven cultivators survive tribulations.

Lei Jun waved his hand, and the dragon-shaped cloak flew like a soaring dragon, bringing the solid-looking gale back into place.

He sat down calmly and began to introspect.

His soul and body were distinct, yet seemed to merge into one.

The point of convergence within him was a profound phenomenon.

The foundations, altars, and talismans of his early years were long gone.

In their place was a new universe within him.

It was vast, with stars moving and all things flourishing in a subtle yet unrestricted manner.

This was the manifestation of his soul's unity with his life force and the condensation of his magical powers.

However, due to the prior Southern Wasteland war, the Golden City Fortress and the Blood River Sect suffered together, forcing them to hide and retreat. This is why, in recent years, Zong Han and the monks of the Golden City Fortress have been relatively quiet, causing less trouble.

Zong Han was also once a powerful figure in the Southern Wasteland Witch Sect, a hero who forcibly unified and consolidated the previously chaotic Golden City Fortress.

However, his luck was poor. He encountered the rise of the Blood River Sect’s master, Wei Ancheng, and then, during the Southern Wasteland War, he ended up on the losing side. While the Golden City Fortress suffered greatly, Zong Han himself also sustained significant losses.

The Ghost Path disciples relied entirely on the control of evil spirits and walking corpses. After several setbacks, replenishing their forces wasn't easy.

Zong Han had been hiding for years, enduring hardships. He had just managed to accumulate some resources, but this battle caused Tang Xiaotang to waste them all.

“Did Junior Sister not bring the Celestial Master Sword?” Lei Jun asked.

On one hand, the Celestial Master’s Three Treasures should not be taken away from the mountain lightly, especially since, for now, only the Celestial Master Sword remains at Mount Longhu.

On the other hand, Tang Xiaotang had already achieved the Outer Realm of the Divine Court, and was actually looking for a place to test her abilities…

Yuan Mo Bai nodded lightly. "I still hope the Sect Master returns to the mountain soon."

Xu Yuanzhen, Yuan Mo Bai, and Lei Jun were all at the mountain gate, so the Celestial Master’s House was not in immediate danger. But in recent years, the situation both inside and outside the Great Tang Empire had been changing rapidly, and the situation was more complicated than before.

The master and disciple chatted along the way and went to meet other high-ranking monks in the house.

Xu Yuanzhen was usually not here, but Shangguan Ning and Zhang Jingzhen were present. When they heard that Lei Jun had reached the Eighth Heaven cultivation realm, both were surprised.

They had expected that Lei Jun could eventually reach the Divine Court, but they hadn’t thought he would advance so early.

Shangguan Ning gazed at Lei Jun for a while before turning to look at Zhang Jingzhen, joking with a self-deprecating smile, "Jingzhen, Junior Nephew, are you feeling any better now?"

In the past, before Lei Jun entered the sect, Zhang Jingzhen had already reached the Sixth Heaven Dao Seal realm. However, after that, Lei Jun advanced faster and passed the Heaven’s Gap to reach the Seventh Heaven before her.

Now, Shangguan Ning, too, found herself overtaken by this younger disciple. Of course, there were multiple factors at play, including age and the abundance of spiritual energy, but the gap between them was undeniable.

At first, it was Xu Yuanzhen who dealt a heavy blow to everyone. Then, it was Tang Xiaotang, who made everyone feel helpless and somewhat numb. Now, there was yet another Lei Jun.

The others didn’t become more numb because of this. Instead, they began to doubt their own lives. One or two of these could be explained away by coincidence. But with a third person, and more coming, it was hard to avoid self-doubt, feeling that the world in front of them was becoming unreal.

Fortunately, Shangguan Ning, with her noble background and vast experience, managed to maintain her composure. She was able to half-jokingly and half-comfortingly help Zhang Jingzhen ease her feelings.

By now, Zhang Jingzhen, too, had calmed her mind. She smiled and said, "I’m doing well, Senior Uncle, please don’t worry."

"Regardless of everything, having another Eighth Heaven cultivator in our sect is a cause for celebration," Shangguan Ning said with a smile before her expression grew a little more serious. "The situation now is changing rapidly."

She took out a jade slip and handed it to Lei Jun and Yuan Mo Bai. "Junior Brother Yuan, I was just about to ask you and Xu Yuanzhen to come and join us. It’s even better that you are here now. This is a message that just arrived. The East Sea is in turmoil, and the Void Domain is no longer as stable as it once was. There may be some changes."

Lei Jun asked, "Master, is it from the Changjie Island direction?"

Shangguan Ning replied, "It’s not from that direction. It’s closer—near the bays of Mingzhou and Yuhang."

Yuan Mo Bai and Lei Jun furrowed their brows upon hearing this.

Shangguan Ning continued, "The court has already sent people to investigate. I heard that the Chu Clan of Suzhou and the Tianlong Temple have also sent people there."

Yuan Mo Bai said, "In that case, let’s wait and see. We’ll inform Xu Yuanzhen as well."

Lei Jun, Shangguan Ning, and Zhang Jingzhen nodded in agreement.

After chatting for a while, Lei Jun and his master left to head to the Wanfa Sect altar.

Yuan Mo Bai opened the sect altar, and Lei Jun entered. After offering incense and praying to the ancestral masters, he inherited the last volume of the sect’s sacred scriptures.

Above the Wanfa Sect altar, radiant light illuminated the area, and numerous Taoist symbols and talismans flowed through the air.

At this moment, everyone in the sect knew that an elder had broken through, and the sect had gained a new Eighth Heaven cultivator in the Divine Court.

The entire sect was immediately invigorated.

With the breakthroughs of Tang Xiaotang, Yuan Mo Bai, Xu Yuanzhen, and Lei Jun, there were now four cultivators above the Seventh Heaven in the Celestial Master’s House, including Xu Yuanzhen, who had reached the Ninth Heaven.

In terms of high-level power, the sect was already stronger than when the previous Celestial Master, Li Qingfeng, had taken charge thirty years ago.

Although the lower and middle ranks were still weak due to several setbacks, giving the Celestial Master’s House a top-heavy feeling, as long as the upper levels were strong and stable, with some careful management, the Celestial Master’s House could once again rise to its former glory, expanding both in height and depth.

Not only the younger disciples, but even the elders and senior monks who had been in the sect for a long time were now filled with new energy.

Shangguan Ning and Zhang Jingzhen both watched the column of light rising from the Wanfa Sect altar.

"Junior Nephew Lei, you’re still a few months away from turning fifty, right?" Shangguan Ning suddenly asked.

Zhang Jingzhen nodded, "From what I know, Junior Brother Lei’s birthday is in the summer."

Shangguan Ning sighed, "Such youth."

Zhang Jingzhen, now more composed, replied, "Senior Uncle is right. This is a blessing for Mount Longhu."

Yuan Mo Bai looked at his disciple as he inherited the seventh volume of the "True Law of One Path," and he too was filled with emotion.

After leaving the Wanfa Sect altar, he said to Lei Jun, "You go ahead and handle your business. I’ll go to the back mountain for a walk."

Lei Jun responded, "Yes, Master."

After the master and disciple parted ways, Yuan Mo Bai went alone to the back mountain’s ancestral tomb.

Inside the temple that housed the ancestral tablets of past masters, Yuan Mo Bai respectfully performed a ritual and offered incense.

In the end, he stared at one of the tablets for a long time, silent.

It was the tablet of his master, the previous Celestial Master, Li Yang.

The deceased has passed, and the Li family has now become part of history.

Standing before the memorial tablet of the third Li Tianshi, Yuan Mobai’s expression was calm, though a hint of sadness could be seen in his eyes.

After a moment, another middle-aged Daoist man in purple robes approached Yuan Mobai. He also paid his respects at the tablet of the third Li Tianshi.

"Fourth Senior Brother," Yuan Mobai greeted him.

The newcomer was none other than Yao Yuan, who was guarding the tomb.

He and Yuan Mobai were both direct disciples of the previous generation's Li Yang, the Li Tianshi.

Yao Yuan returned the gesture and then spoke softly, “I’ve heard, is it Lei Shizhi?”

Yuan Mobai: “Yes, it’s Chongyun.”

Yao Yuan: “It’s great that the lineage continues.”

He smiled, easing the atmosphere a little: “It’s fortunate that since you returned from the Southern Wasteland and began your seclusion, you’ve made further progress and reached the middle stage of the Divine Court. Otherwise, your disciple might have caught up to you.”

Yuan Mobai smiled: “The student surpassing the teacher, it’s the best outcome.”

Yao Yuan nodded: “Indeed, you, Senior Brother, value our sect’s legacy, and thanks to your guidance, our sect has gained another Eight Heavens cultivator. The Tianshi Mansion is on the path to revival, which should be a comfort to the ancestors above.

I suppose you are even more pleased seeing Lei Shizhi reach the Divine Court than when you reached it yourself?”

Yuan Mobai: “Yes, his future is even brighter than mine.”

Yao Yuan: “In just two or three decades, his journey has been more eventful than the past hundred years combined.”

The two turned and silently faced the many memorial tablets before them.

………………

After bidding Yuan Mobai farewell, Lei Jun returned to his own residence.

At the entrance of the courtyard, a short, round figure was waiting.

As soon as Lei Jun arrived, the little one hurried forward and bowed. “Congratulations, Master, for achieving the Divine Court!”

Lei Jun: “No rush, later I will check on your studies.”

Zhuo Baojie smiled wryly: “Master, I’ve been diligent.”

The little bear’s black-and-white face quickly became serious: “Master, inside the courtyard…”

Lei Jun raised his eyes to look at the courtyard gate.

Inside, a woman in purple robes and a black cloak was calmly painting on a sheet of paper, seemingly unaware of their presence.

When Lei Jun and Zhuo Baojie entered, she stopped painting, looked up, and greeted them.

Lei Jun stepped forward: “Senior Sister.”

Xu Yuanzhen surveyed him from head to toe and nodded slightly: “Not bad, your foundation is solid.”

Lei Jun: “It came naturally.”

Xu Yuanzhen: “Yes, that’s the best outcome.”

Then she said, “Let me have a look at the Dark Side of the Heavenly Book. You can show it to me here.”

Lei Jun agreed without asking why, raised his hand, and shadows swirled in his palm.

The shadow extended from his hand and floated to Xu Yuanzhen.

She reached out, holding the shadow in her palm and silently observing.

After a moment, she nodded, and the shadow returned to Lei Jun’s hand.

At this point, Zhuo Baojie welcomed Wang Guiyuan and Chu Kun into the room.

The two congratulated Lei Jun on reaching the Eight Heavens Realm.

Xu Yuanzhen’s expression remained calm, but she nodded in acknowledgment: “In less than ten years, from the Seven Heavens to the Eight Heavens, you’ve surpassed even me and Xiaotang’s progress.”

Lei Jun: “The surge in spiritual energy from Heaven and Earth has been favorable for cultivation. I’ve advanced quickly, but I cannot compare with the speed you and Junior Sister Xiaotang had in the past.”

Xu Yuanzhen was nonchalant: “The Dao is long, and we still have a way to go.”

She sighed, a rare moment of sentiment: “It’s a pity Xiaotang has just come out of seclusion. She won’t be able to share in your happiness.”

Lei Jun and his fellow disciples were familiar with Xu Yuanzhen’s tone and each of them had the urge to facepalm.

Chu Kun lowered his head, focusing on his nose, pretending not to hear.

In his heart, he muttered:

“Senior Sister, you must be happy someone else can help distract the attention of the Sect Leader.”

Wang Guiyuan cleared his throat, changing the subject: “Junior Brother, did you just breakthrough to the Eight Heavens Realm today?”

Lei Jun nodded: “Yes, I just came out of seclusion today.”

Wang Guiyuan, curious, asked: “Then you don’t feel the need to rush and take the seventh volume of the Ten Thousand Laws Sect’s inheritance, right?”

Lei Jun: “Let things come naturally.”

Wang Guiyuan expressed slight regret: “You could wait a bit and observe the situation outside the mountain before making a decision.”

Although he had often teased Lei Jun before, Wang Guiyuan spoke seriously now:

“Junior Brother, with your newfound strength, you’re already among the top experts in the world. But because of this, it would be wise to remain cautious for your future.”

Lei Jun: “Senior Brother, don’t worry. I understand the saying ‘high places are cold.’ While I follow Heaven’s will, I will not act recklessly.”

“Good, very good,” Wang Guiyuan said, relieved. “You understand well.”

Xu Yuanzhen, who had been writing again, didn’t look up and commented: “You and Wang Guiyuan are two completely different kinds of people.”

Wang Guiyuan smiled wryly: “I know this, which is why I can’t help but keep nagging sometimes.”

Lei Jun: “Senior Brother, I know you mean well. If I had the choice, I’d prefer things to be neither too cold nor too hot.”

Wang Guiyuan sighed softly: “The Nine Heavens and Ten Earths have returned, and the world is changing. We need to be extra cautious, for what may seem like an opportunity could also bring danger.”

Lei Jun nodded slightly, lost in thought.

Chu Kun, curious, asked: “Senior Brother, when you left the mountain a couple of years ago, did you go to Mount Sumeru, the Land of the Deep Sea, or somewhere else?”

Wang Guiyuan: “I avoided them like the plague. Why would I want to go there?”

Lei Jun looked at Chu Kun: “Third Junior Brother, how are you preparing for the Dao Seal realm?”

Back when Lei Jun was at the Sixth Heaven, he had progressed faster than most due to his natural talent, comprehension, and the help of Chu Kun’s Immortal Spirit Seed.

That had been one of the best treasures to help cultivators at the Sixth Heaven Realm.

Chu Kun had also prepared one for himself.

“It’s making some progress, but it’s still early,” Chu Kun replied honestly. “While the Immortal Spirit Seed helped a lot, the slow and steady effort is still necessary.”

After a few more words, they each left.

Lei Jun had broken through and made great progress in his cultivation.

Yet, in his daily life, not much had changed compared to before.

Besides his duties as a Senior Elder, assisting with the sect’s affairs, he continued focusing on his own training and testing his eldest disciple.

The only change was in how others treated him.

Familiar people like Wang Guiyuan and Chu Kun were still the same.

But many others, including younger disciples and some elder masters, were now more cautious in front of him.

Lei Jun remained unchanged, serene and humble.

Though he didn’t radiate the warmth of spring, he was certainly not intimidating.

But over time, most people found themselves in awe of his growing authority.

Lei Jun never acted out of pretension, nor did he change his nature due to others' opinions—everything remained as it was.

Now that he had stabilized his earlier cultivation and the core Daoist arts, his attention shifted to a new goal.

In his quiet study, Lei Jun sat in solitude.

Before him, a glowing dark blue flame pulsed, flickering and shifting in intensity, resembling the rhythm of a heartbeat.

This flame, cool to the touch, didn’t burn like fire; instead, it carried an eerie, cold sensation.

Yet, this was the Ge Luo Flame Heart, born from the intense heat of the earth’s molten lava.

Because of the reversed flow of the Earth Veins, it had become imbued with Yin properties, creating a flame heart that was rare and almost impossible to find.

This flame could help Tianshi Mansion cultivators more rapidly reach the Nine Abyss Flame Ancestor’s apparition, also known as the Yin Fire Tiger.

After advancing to the Eight Heavens, Lei Jun chose this for his Daoist arts—an art he would create based on his own Yin Fire Tiger, with the help of his Two-Element Immortal Body, clear tranquility, and the flame’s properties.

Unlike the Pure Yang Flame or the Pure Yang Fire Tiger of his fellow disciples, Lei Jun’s path was his own.

In the True-One Altar, the dark blue Nine Abyss True Flame burned brightly, showing its full force.

The Fire Law Ge Luo Talisman emerged before his eyes.