Seeking Fortune and Avoiding Misfortune: Starting from the Celestial Master’s Mansion
Chapter 304: Second-level opportunity, a chance to quickly improve your cultivation

Xiaozhou Island?

With a thought, Lei Jun recalled the sea charts he had studied before and after setting out on this journey.

Then, he guided the Grand Celestial Law Mirror to rotate, scanning the area for the island.

Cross-referencing with the charts for a while, Lei Jun gradually pinpointed the general location. Narrowing his field of view, he meticulously searched further—until he finally locked onto Xiaozhou Island.

There were plenty of desolate islands scattered across the Eastern Sea, but most of them were unsuitable for docking, making them sparsely populated.

With Tang cultivators and Tianli cultivators waging war in this region, the conflict’s shockwaves had swept far and wide, driving away the already scarce island dwellers.

Currently, Xiaozhou Island was an uninhabited wasteland.

Under the sweep of the Grand Celestial Law Mirror, Lei Jun found no one on the island.

Even in the surrounding waters—where the waves surged violently, towering like walls—there was no one in sight.

Lei Jun nodded slightly. Cloaked under the Supreme Purity Eight Sceneries Treasure Mantle, he concealed his presence and silently made his way toward Xiaozhou Island.

Upon reaching it, he didn’t immediately set foot on the island.

Instead, as the omen had foretold, he waited for midnight to arrive.

The battle between Tang and Tianli cultivators was reaching its peak, the intensity of the conflict reaching a fever pitch.

On the surface, Tianli’s cultivators seemed to be securing victory after victory, advancing unhindered.

But after sunset, as the last remnants of daylight faded—

The tides suddenly turned.

Radiant streaks of scholarly brilliance interwove, soaring into the sky, illuminating the darkened sea once more.

The dense inky-black mist, which had relentlessly pressed forward like a mobile fortress, suddenly encountered resistance.

With Chu Xiuyuan and Ye Yan leading the charge, elite Confucian scholars from Suzhou and Qingzhou, in coordination with Tang imperial cultivators like Chu Yu and Abbot Miaoxin of Tianlong Monastery, successfully activated an expansive, grand ritual formation.

The trap was set.

The Tianli cultivators had charged in headfirst.

"Too aggressive," Lei Jun observed from afar, his expression calm. "They really underestimated the Tang cultivators."

Through the Grand Celestial Law Mirror, Lei Jun watched as the Eastern Sea churned—

The vast waters stirred as one, forming an enormous vortex.

This vortex drew in immense spiritual energy from the four corners of heaven and earth, continuously strengthening itself.

Tianli cultivators relied on the nation’s fortune to enhance their Upper Three Heavens cultivators, granting them extraordinary abilities beyond the average.

With centuries of refinement, the Confucian orthodoxy of Tianli had perfected this approach.

Even when they left Tianli and entered the Tang realm, these Confucian scholars remained blessed with fate.

However—

This was not Tianli, but Tang territory.

And now, with Ye Yan, Chu Xiuyuan, and Chu Yu amassing enough overwhelming power, they channeled the natural energies of the mortal realm—tilting the battle against Tianli.

Though the Confucian scholars remained resolute, their doctrinal foundation unshaken, they now struggled to resist.

Once the Tang cultivators seized the initiative, Tianli’s forces began to falter.

Especially those who had rushed too far ahead—their formation had broken apart, leaving them vulnerable to division by the Tang forces.

Now, the Tianli cultivators were forced to retreat separately, their battle lines thrown into chaos.

Defeat was inevitable.

Meanwhile, Tang elites like Chu Yu had begun moving toward the Void Gateway, the passage linking Tianli and the mortal realm.

Their objectives were twofold:

• Intercept potential reinforcements from Tianli.

• Block the escape route for the retreating Tianli cultivators.

They weren’t aiming to wipe out every last Tianli cultivator—

As long as they could slay as many as possible, that was enough.

This entire operation’s ultimate goal was to seal off the Void Gateway—

Not to launch a counter-invasion into Tianli.

But while closing the door, they would exterminate as many enemies as possible.

Amid the heaven-and-sea storm, Xiaozhou Island was not spared from the battle’s aftershocks.

The roaring tides had begun to form tsunamis, and towering waves and torrential rain pounded the island relentlessly, as if trying to swallow it whole.

Standing offshore, Lei Jun bore the full force of the tempestuous sea and sky.

Yet beneath the protection of the Supreme Purity Eight Sceneries Treasure Mantle, he was untouched.

The raging storm passed around him without a trace, failing to expose his presence.

At this moment, his Treasure Mantle truly lived up to its name—

Rain and wind surged, yet Lei Jun remained motionless, unfazed.

"However, this kind of physical concealment does slightly hinder the Grand Celestial Law Mirror's precision in observing small details…"

As midnight approached, Lei Jun waited in silence, his thoughts instead turning to refining his mystical arts and magical treasures.

The Heavenly Ground-Through Talisman glowed faintly in his eyes—

And at the same time, within the Grand Celestial Law Mirror, the same talisman radiated its light.

Influenced by Lei Jun, the talisman continuously refined and adjusted itself, allowing him to maintain a clear observation despite the battlefield’s chaos.

Suddenly—

Something shifted.

Lei Jun felt a subtle change.

Through the heavy rain and storm, he saw someone approaching the island under the cover of night.

Fixing his gaze, he identified the newcomer:

A middle-aged man, dressed in a Third-Rank official’s robe of the Ming Dynasty, around forty years old.

Though battered by the storm, he still maintained the dignified bearing of an official.

"Huang Tian?"

Recalling Tianli’s factional divisions, Lei Jun recognized him as one of the Gan Party’s top enforcers.

While Tianli’s Confucian scholars typically rose slowly through seniority, some mid-tier figures were carefully cultivated by various political factions.

Wu Party’s Gu Hai and Gan Party’s Huang Tian were two such figures.

But now, Huang Tian was alone and in dire straits.

Yet despite his disheveled state, his eyes burned with determination:

"Gu Guanghan, this time, you won’t escape me."

"You Wu Party traitors, your arrogance and recklessness led to today’s disaster!"

"I’ll personally denounce you—just wait for your imprisonment!"

"As for those treasonous scholars of the Tang realm, I’ll deal with them later."

Although Huang Tian had a plan in mind, he needed to return to Tianli first.

With the battlefield in utter chaos, he had managed to escape, but getting back to Tianli was another matter.

For now, he needed to find shelter.

With this in mind, he stepped onto Xiaozhou Island—

And at that very moment, the island’s subterranean spiritual energy erupted.

A violent gale surged skyward.

As Huang Tian cursed his misfortune and prepared to flee, he suddenly felt something change.

Something he possessed was reacting.

Stunned, he retrieved a withered vine.

At that instant, the island’s peak split open—and as the spiritual winds merged with the heavens, a gentle white light descended like rain.

A rare natural phenomenon—and the key lay in the withered vine.

Watching from afar, Lei Jun narrowed his eyes.

"A gourd vine?"

"What is it?" Huang Tian muttered.

Though he had no practical knowledge of agriculture, he was well-read. He recalled references from ancient texts as he examined the gourd vine, deep in thought.

After observing for a moment, Lei Jun mumbled to himself, "It looks somewhat like a Brahmanic Qi Immortal Gourd..."

This was one of the treasured Daoist artifacts.

Mount Longhu had once possessed such an artifact in its long history, but that was a tale from a distant past—a story bordering on legend.

Now, not even a single Brahmanic Qi Gourd seed remained.

Yet, Huang Tian somehow had a withered vine that still retained a trace of life, accumulating hidden spiritual essence over the years.

This time, by sheer coincidence—or perhaps fate itself—the vine had encountered the perfect conditions to awaken and revive its dormant spirit.

As for the function of this artifact, it greatly aided upper-tier cultivators, accelerating their advancement in cultivation.

It was particularly beneficial for cultivators in the Seventh and Eighth Heaven.

Its effects even surpassed rare spiritual treasures such as the Ascension Glimmering Flow.

Lei Jun, already possessing an Innate Celestial Physique, Superior Bone Structure, and Clear Tranquility Comprehension, cultivated at a speed far surpassing his peers.

If he could refine the Brahmanic Qi Immortal Gourd, his cultivation progress would be drastically shortened.

Although a Daoist artifact, this treasure would also benefit cultivators of other traditions.

Huang Tian, matching the scene before him with ancient texts, felt the same surge of excitement despite being a Confucian scholar of the Neo-Confucian school.

All cultivators sought steady and prolonged progress—the deeper the foundation, the better.

But there was one issue: the vine he possessed was a dead one.

Now, under the baptism of spiritual energy, the revitalized vine had used up all its latent energy in its transformation.

This meant there was only one chance to obtain the Brahmanic Qi Immortal Gourd.

If the vine could have been transplanted and cultivated, the possibilities would have been endless.

But now, he could only sigh helplessly.

Huang Tian exhaled in disappointment, then turned his eyes back to the vine.

The light surrounding it faintly formed the shape of a gourd, divided into two halves—one on each side.

His eyes lit up.

"Not just one—a pair?"

Seeing this, Lei Jun nodded slightly.

However, the gourds were not yet fully formed.

Though the revived vine had been energized by the surge of spiritual energy, it still lacked a final push to fully materialize the Brahmanic Qi Immortal Gourds.

Huang Tian, realizing this, grew serious, glancing around in search of a solution.

Lei Jun, on the other hand, had already figured it out.

"No wonder it must be at midnight—it's waiting for the exact moment of yin-yang convergence."

And crucially, this final opportunity rested on him, Lei Jun.

If he hadn't come, Xiaozhou Island would never have produced this rare Second-Grade Opportunity today.

Without him, Huang Tian’s withered vine would have been wasted.

So now, all that remained was to wait for midnight…

Lei Jun settled himself, preparing to be patient.

Huang Tian refused to sit idly by—he experimented with various methods, hoping to fully awaken the gourds.

Lei Jun observed for a while, then withdrew his gaze, letting Huang Tian do as he pleased.

Due to the dense convergence of spiritual energy, the howling winds and torrential rain, a special mist of light had formed around the area.

For now, this phenomenon remained hidden from distant observers.

Daoist Lei, stationed outside the island, discreetly strengthened the concealment for Huang Tian, ensuring that the event would not draw unwanted attention.

Meanwhile, Lei Jun continued scanning the battlefield with the Grand Celestial Mirror, tracking the overall situation.

Victory was already secured for Great Tang.

After confirming this once again, Lei Jun relaxed, staying on Xiaozhou Island to observe the unfolding events.

Just then, he felt a subtle sensation.

The Grand Celestial Mirror adjusted, comparing the local sea charts.

The mirror's reflection shifted toward Fish Star Island, which had been mentioned in the Moderate-Moderate Omen he had drawn earlier.

Lei Jun himself was focused on the Brahmanic Qi Immortal Gourds, leaving him no time to worry about Fish Star Island.

But he was curious.

The omen had suggested a Fifth-Grade Opportunity lay there—what exactly was it?

Since he was already adjusting the Grand Celestial Mirror, Lei Jun decided to shift his perspective toward Fish Star Island.

Like Xiaozhou Island, Fish Star Island was an isolated and rarely visited landmass.

However, due to the recent spiritual energy disturbances, changes were taking place there as well.

After observing for a while, Lei Jun suddenly spotted a familiar stranger entering the frame—landing on Fish Star Island.

Chen Yi.

Seeing him here took Lei Jun by surprise.

Chen Yi was still at the Sixth Heaven, but his cultivation path had shifted unpredictably, making it hard to discern his current Daoist lineage.

However, his reckless yet calculated nature had not changed.

He had braved the battlefield, waiting patiently for the right moment, and had now seized the opportunity to search for something he desired.

And he had found it.

Unlike Xiaozhou Island, where a near tsunami had triggered a massive spiritual energy upheaval, the changes on Fish Star Island were more subtle.

Though the island was also shrouded in stormy winds and rain, something else was happening.

Near a small, abandoned port, the seawater was receding.

After searching carefully, Chen Yi finally located his target.

A massive Blood Coral was emerging from the depths of the ocean.

Although the sea’s turbulence made it difficult to see clearly, Lei Jun, watching through the Grand Celestial Mirror, had no doubt:

The Blood Coral had not always been here.

Like the Brahmanic Qi Immortal Gourd, it had only appeared due to the recent spiritual energy shifts.

However, the Blood Coral was unique in one aspect—it manifested naturally, requiring no external intervention to bring it forth.

That was its advantage over the gourd.

But to Lei Jun, the Blood Coral held little value.

That was likely why it was classified as a Fifth-Grade Opportunity.

Yet, for someone like Chen Yi, whose Daoist arts were steeped in the Blood River Sect’s teachings, this Blood Coral was an extraordinary treasure—one worth risking everything for.

Through the Grand Celestial Mirror, Lei Jun observed Chen Yi’s expression.

Though he remained calm, his eyes glowed with anticipation.

Too soon to celebrate.

Lei Jun watched him unperturbed.

Because he had already seen someone else approaching Fish Star Island.

Another familiar face.

Former Shushan Sect Elder—Liu Dongzhuo.

During the initial Shushan Sect rebellion, Liu Dongzhuo had faked his death, acting on orders from Fu Dongsen, Hong Jie, and Wei Qiyue.

However, it was his actions later that ultimately exposed Shushan's secrets.

Following that, he had fully defected, joining the Mortal Daoist Nation.

During the battle at Mount Longhu, the Mortal Daoist Nation had only sent its topmost elites.

With Taiyi Innate Tower and Qingxiao Hall deployed together, the nation had momentarily lost its foundation, forcing Liu Dongzhuo and other Seventh-Heaven elders to stay behind and protect their disciples.

This had preserved some of their strength.

But without Taiyi Innate Tower and Qingxiao Hall, they were like drifting weeds, scattered and struggling to survive.

Lei Jun had not expected that, while Tang and Tinali were locked in battle, Liu Dongzhuo would quietly appear in the Eastern Sea.

Clearly, Liu Dongzhuo wasn't here to join the war.

Lei Jun guessed his true target—

Chen Yi.

A sword light suddenly flashed from outside Chen Yi’s field of vision, striking down toward him.

Liu Dongzhuo controlled his sword effortlessly, maneuvering it as he wished. With just a slight arc in midair, his sword light once again locked onto Chen Yi from behind.

He was careful in his attacks. Even though Chen Yi was one realm lower than him, Liu Dongzhuo still didn’t resort to spirit-infused sword techniques to boost his power. Instead, he kept his distance, attacking from afar using aerial sword control.

His sword light was incredibly agile and unpredictable, making Lei Jun sigh inwardly.

His own "Flying Sword" was powerful and had immense range, but it was a straight-line attack—once the sword or sword pellet was launched, he had to find a way to retrieve it.

Liu Dongzhuo, on the other hand, was overly cautious in his swordplay, which made his attacks more fluid but also weaker in raw destructive power compared to a direct strike.

It was precisely because of this that Chen Yi was able to barely hold his ground.

Yet, despite their skirmish, neither of them managed to seize the Blood Coral. The precious treasure sank back into the waters, drifting deeper into the ocean's depths.

Chen Yi showed no sign of anger. He merely cast a cold glance at Liu Dongzhuo before immediately turning to chase after the Blood Coral.

Liu Dongzhuo’s flying sword cut through the sea, diving after Chen Yi.

However, the hidden undercurrents and tides slowed the sword’s advance.

Before long, Liu Dongzhuo himself appeared.

This time, he couldn’t afford to remain airborne—he had to dive in himself to pursue Chen Yi, his sword accompanying him underwater.

Unfortunately, due to the chaotic spiritual energy in the environment, even sending messages via flying sword transmission was impossible.

Liu Dongzhuo felt helpless, but he didn’t hesitate. He increased his speed and chased after Chen Yi.

Watching through his Grand Celestial Mirror, Lei Jun saw both of them disappear beneath the waves. Once they were out of sight, he shifted his focus.

Since he was already at Xiao Zhou Island, he had decided to give up on Yuxing Island.

Still, being able to witness what had happened over there and confirming that the Fifth-Grade Opportunity likely referred to the Blood Coral was already a pleasant surprise.

And now, midnight had arrived.

Chen Yi and Liu Dongzhuo had started their fight a little earlier, which had startled the Blood Coral into retreating.

Meanwhile, on Xiao Zhou Island, Lei Jun had arrived at the perfect time.

At that very moment, Huang Tian was frustrated.

The gourd remained only a phantom, refusing to fully condense into reality.

If this continued, the gourd vine’s spiritual energy would be wasted, and after some time, it would no longer be able to bear the Brahman Qi Immortal Gourd.

But Huang Tian was helpless. Just as his anxiety peaked, a deafening crack of thunder suddenly rang in his ears.

At the critical moment of Yin-Yang transition at midnight, Lei Jun stepped onto the island.

The Taiqing Eight Sceneries Mystic Cloak spread outward, no longer shielding Lei Jun himself, but instead sealing off the entire sea area around Xiao Zhou Island, ensuring that no one outside would notice the events unfolding here.

Lei Jun focused his mind. Two massive talisman seals—one black, one purple—suspended in the air.

Then, the purple-colored Yang Heavenly Thunder and the black-colored Yin Profound Thunder erupted simultaneously, intertwining as they struck the gourd vine!

Huang Tian was shocked.

By the time he snapped back to his senses, the Yin-Yang Twin Thunders had already engulfed the gourd vine.

But rather than being destroyed, the gourd vine was stimulated by the energy, finally undergoing its final transformation. Its glow became solid, gradually crystallizing into the Brahman Qi Immortal Gourd.

Huang Tian was stunned at first, then delighted.

However, his joy immediately vanished, replaced by a grave expression as he locked his eyes onto Lei Jun.

Meanwhile, Lei Jun continued channeling his Nine Heavens Divine Thunder and Xuanxiao Celestial Thunder into the gourd vine, accelerating the birth of the Brahman Qi Immortal Gourd.

"Channeling the Divine Court, transforming Yin and Yang into tribulation—only after tribulation is Brahman Qi born. This aligns with the Dao."

Huang Tian glared coldly at Lei Jun.

His gaze swept over the purple Nine Heavens Divine Thunder, then lingered on the black Xuanxiao Celestial Thunder, his expression darkening with disdain.

"I’ve heard of the Nine Heavens Divine Thunder of the Talismanic Branch of Daoism. At least it’s still a proper technique passed down by the Ancestral Masters of Mount Longhu."

Huang Tian snorted.

"But what is this Profound Thunder? A heretic’s art! A heretic will always be a heretic, dabbling in nothing but unorthodox sorcery!"

Lei Jun was slightly surprised by this.

"But doesn’t your Neo-Confucian lineage also innovate beyond classical scholarship and establish its own traditions?"

Huang Tian immediately flew into a rage:

"We scholars seek wisdom from the Saints’ classics, gain insight from great sages’ commentaries, and comprehend moral principles—how can a heretic like you even compare?!"

Lei Jun, unfazed, replied:

"So you mean that modern people only need to follow the principles of ancient sages, and as long as they interpret and practice them correctly, everything will fall into place? That as long as one reveres the past and follows tradition, they can govern the world and cultivate themselves?"

Huang Tian nodded confidently. "Naturally."

Lei Jun gave him a peculiar look, sizing him up.

"I always found it odd. Your Great Ming has existed for over two thousand years longer than our Great Tang.

Even ignoring spiritual energy fluctuations, your various Daoist and Confucian traditions should have developed far more extensively…

And yet, your Neo-Confucian sects appear to be surprisingly uniform?"

He had noticed earlier—regardless of cultivation level, sect, or master, every Neo-Confucian cultivator from Tianli Sect seemed to use identical techniques, almost as if they were all taught by the same instructor, standardized and rigid to the extreme.

Huang Tian sneered.

"And what would a strayed fool like you know about academia? You should understand:

No matter how things change, the core principles never do. All things follow their inherent logic."

Lei Jun suddenly looked oddly agreeable:

"Though people often say that all paths return to one, the idea of each generation expanding upon the teachings of the past is what truly allows knowledge to flourish.

This doesn’t contradict the idea of ‘all laws returning to the source’—in fact, it embodies it."

Huang Tian snorted coldly:

"The Saints' teachings have already explained all knowledge.

Even if a scholar dedicates their entire life, they could barely comprehend a fraction of it.

What right does a heretic like you have to speak of learning?!"

Lei Jun nodded slightly.

"I don’t even need to ask.

It’s obvious that most Neo-Confucian cultivators from your side think exactly like you.

That explains a lot...

No wonder you’re so insufferable."

"Insolence!" Huang Tian roared, slashing his brush, unleashing a barrage of ink glyphs like a torrential storm toward Lei Jun.

But Lei Jun didn't move.

A gigantic Xuanxiao Five Thunder Talisman appeared in the air, black thunder surged, and a massive Yin Thunder Dragon emerged from it.

The Yin Thunder Dragon devoured all of Huang Tian’s ink glyphs in a single bite.

Then, ignoring the razor-sharp ink blades, it descended upon him.

Huang Tian barely had time to shout in protest before he was completely consumed by endless black lightning—reduced to ashes on the spot!