Seeking Fortune and Avoiding Misfortune: Starting from the Celestial Master’s Mansion
Chapter 314: Elder Lei's Dragon in the Imperial Capital

After quietly listening to Lei Jun’s account, Yuan Mobai sighed. “Though the Shangguan Clan of Longxi is no longer as flourishing as before, it still produces outstanding talents.”

Lei Jun nodded silently.

Apart from Shangguan Chunhui and Shangguan Xueting, there was also their older half-brother, the current clan leader of the Shangguan Clan—Shangguan Hang.

With the tides of spiritual energy surging through the world, cultivation had become easier for the present-day practitioners. The most significant beneficiaries were the rising young prodigies.

Shangguan Hang resided long-term in the ancestral lands of the Shangguan Clan in Longxi, unlike Shangguan Chunhui and Shangguan Xueting, who frequently accompanied the Tang Emperor. This made him appear less conspicuous.

However, whether it was Lei Jun, Yuan Mobai, or other top forces, no one overlooked the fact that Shangguan Hang had once been counted among the leading figures of the young generation of the Tang aristocracy, alongside Fang Zhu of Jingxiang, Ye Cheng of Qingzhou, Chu Zhe of Suzhou, and Ye Feishan of Cangzhou.

Their future paths pointed towards the ranks of Ye Yan, Fang Jingsheng, and Chu Xiuyuan—heads of the great noble families.

Like Shangguan Xueting, Shangguan Hang had also reached the Eighth Heaven realm in recent years.

And then there was Shangguan Chunhui—a talent of immense potential, deeply concealed and steadily building his strength. Though the Shangguan Clan of Longxi had yet to return to its former glory, the signs of revival were evident, like an old tree sprouting new branches.

“The old master of the Shangguan Clan was no ordinary man,” Lei Jun remarked.

Yuan Mobai nodded. “Shangguan Yumeng was indeed an extraordinary figure.”

Several decades ago, when the Shangguan Clan of Longxi still stood firm in the northwest, three figures were the most pivotal.

The clan leader of the generation before last—Shangguan Hang’s grandfather, known as the Old Master of the Shangguan Clan.

The clan leader of the previous generation—Shangguan Hang, Shangguan Chunhui, and Shangguan Xueting’s second uncle. Before inheriting the leadership, he was commonly referred to as the Second Elder of the Shangguan Clan.

And finally, their father, Shangguan Yumeng, known as the Great Elder of the Shangguan Clan.

In his time, Shangguan Yumeng was widely recognized as the foremost expert of the clan.

In his youth, he gained fame as a distinguished Confucian scholar of the Tang Dynasty before soaring to greater heights.

However, contrary to expectations, Shangguan Yumeng never succeeded in becoming the clan leader.

Among his peers, he, Fang Jingsheng—the current head of the Fang Clan of Jingxiang—and Lin Huan—the current head of the Lin Clan of Youzhou—were the three most promising scholars expected to break into the Ninth Heaven realm in a short time.

Yet, their fates diverged.

Fang Jingsheng successfully ascended to the Ninth Heaven, fulfilling the expectations of the world.

Lin Huan, however, remained unable to take that final step after his battle with Xu Yuanzhen.

As for Shangguan Yumeng, his fate was even more tragic—he perished alongside other clan elders in the great Western Demon Uprising.

“Still, we can’t be too certain,” Lei Jun mused. “His remains were never found. It was only rumored that he was devoured by a great demon, but the witnesses perished soon after in the same turmoil. There’s no way to confirm it now.”

Had it not been for the mysterious rise of Shangguan Chunhui and Shangguan Xueting in the following years, no one would have questioned the past.

Yet, their extraordinary talents, combined with lingering doubts about their origins, made people wonder if Shangguan Yumeng’s fate had been more complex than it seemed.

Yuan Mobai said, “Without concrete evidence, we must not speculate. The Western Demon Uprising was not just a calamity for the Shangguan Clan but nearly a national tragedy for the Tang Dynasty. Regardless of whether he ultimately survived, Shangguan Yumeng slew many great demons during the battle, protecting the common people.”

Lei Jun nodded. “Master’s wisdom is enlightening.”

Given the current state of the Tang Dynasty, if the Shangguan Clan of Longxi had remained intact, their future would be filled with uncertainty.

Nevertheless, the legacy of Shangguan Yumeng’s lineage was nothing short of legendary.

If Shangguan Chunhui took another step forward, he, along with Shangguan Hang and Shangguan Xueting, would all possess Eighth Heaven cultivation.

Such an occurrence was rare in both ancient and modern history.

The former patriarch of the Chu Clan of Suzhou, Chu Xiuyuan, and the former patriarch of the Ye Clan of Cangzhou, Ye Moquan, were both renowned for producing exceptional heirs.

Yet, even Chu Xiuyuan had only two children—Chu Zhe and his youngest daughter Chu Yu—who reached the Eighth Heaven. His most accomplished son, Chu Lin, now served as the Grand Chancellor of the Tang Dynasty, holding immense political power with widespread literary acclaim. However, his personal cultivation remained at the Seventh Heaven of Confucian Classical Studies, a realm far from breaking into the Eighth Heaven.

At over two hundred years old, whether he could ascend before turning four hundred remained a significant question—unlike Shangguan Chunhui, whose success seemed inevitable.

As for Ye Moquan, he had a son and a daughter, Ye Wei and Ye Han, both of whom had reached the Eighth Heaven, totaling two.

In the past few centuries of the Tang Dynasty, outside of the imperial family’s unique circumstances, there was only one similar precedent.

That was the first-generation Tianshi, Li Zhiyuan, whose three sons—Li Yang, Li Bai, and Li Song—had all attained the Eighth Heaven of the Talismanic Dao. Among them, Li Yang and Li Bai even achieved the pinnacle of the Fourth Realm of the Divine Court, establishing the Li Clan of Xunjiang’s three-to-four-century-long legacy.

Yet, the Li Clan of Xunjiang had long faded into history.

The future of the Shangguan Clan of Longxi, however, remained uncertain.

After concluding his conversation with Yuan Mobai, Lei Jun returned to Lianyun Temple.

Over the following days, numerous figures sought to visit or invite Lei Daozhang.

From high-ranking officials like the Grand Chancellor of the Secretariat, Fang Hezhou, to generals of the Divine Strategy Army like Lu Zhen, and even Chu Lin—the current Grand Chancellor—Lei Jun’s schedule was packed with various banquets and gatherings.

He had expected this.

From the moment he accepted his appointment as the Patrolling Elder and arrived in the imperial capital of Luoyang, this was all part of the plan.

As an openly recognized Tianshi candidate, social engagements were inevitable.

He was no longer the young disciple of years past.

Though Lei Jun preferred quiet cultivation, he did not shy away from such responsibilities. Representing the Tianshi Mansion, he carried himself with dignity and grace.

Of course, even if he were to truly take over the Tianshi position in the future, this lifestyle would not always dominate his days.

His recent public appearances were deliberate—others naturally wanted to understand his perspectives and stance.

At a banquet, a composed and scholarly man raised his cup towards Lei Jun. “Twenty-eight years have passed since our last meeting, Lei Elder. The world has changed, and your presence shines even brighter than before.”

Unlike the Daoist Alchemical Sect, which had strict prohibitions against alcohol, the Talismanic and External Alchemy Daoists merely advised moderation.

Lei Jun calmly raised his cup in return. “Master Ye, you are too kind.”

The scholar across from him was Ye Cheng, courtesy name Jifeng, known as the Lord of Blue Sea Pavilion—a leading figure of the Qingzhou Ye Clan’s younger generation. Once, he and Ye Feishan of the Jinzhou Ye Clan were regarded as the twin prodigies of the east and west.

Now, he had become a core leader of the Qingzhou Ye Clan, no longer viewed as a young junior.

Lei Jun had encountered him once in his youth while accompanying Senior Sister Xu Yuanzhen across the river.

Compared to that time, Ye Cheng now looked older, no longer bearing a youthful appearance, and had grown a beard.

Given his cultivation level, he was still quite young, but his changes were more a reflection of his evolving status and responsibilities.

Still, when facing Lei Jun, he maintained a refined and warm demeanor.

Ye Cheng invited Lei Jun to visit, and Lei Jun accepted without hesitation.

Their conversation was filled with careful exchanges, underlying strategies, and unspoken calculations.

But on the surface, everything remained cordial.

For now, the banquet ended on a seemingly harmonious note.

At this moment, Lei Jun was also observing Meng Shaojie.

"It’s been years since we last met. Xiao Meng, you've nourished your spirit through scholarly pursuits, and it’s paying off."

Although Lei Jun had given Meng Shaojie guidance and even some aid through the dark side of the Heavenly Book’s universe, he couldn’t constantly monitor the latter through it.

Thus, he wasn’t entirely clear on the specifics of Meng Shaojie’s progress in cultivation over the years.

Now, looking at him, Lei Jun could see that not only had Meng Shaojie reached the Middle Three Heavens realm, but his level was also even higher than expected.

It seemed that Meng Shaojie had indeed carved out a unique path for himself—immature but highly suited to his nature.

His extraordinary talent was beginning to shine.

Lei Jun was quite interested in discussing the details of historiography, a branch of Confucian cultivation, with him.

But that wasn’t something to rush. Since he would be staying in Luoyang for a while, he could take his time exchanging thoughts with Meng Shaojie.

Of course, Meng Shaojie was still just starting out on this path. He had a long way to go.

In the eyes of the outside world, he remained a mere footnote.

The main focus of this visit to Lei Elder, however, seemed to be the Crown Prince, Zhang Hui.

Even though Zhang Hui had come in disguise, his visit was not a secret, drawing the attention of many.

At the residence of Chancellor Shangguan Qing, he sat across from Lu Zhen, a high-ranking general of the Divine Strategy Army, discussing the matter.

“The Crown Prince stayed at Lianyun Temple for quite some time, only returning to the palace just before curfew.”

Not long ago, Lei Jun had been invited to visit both Shangguan Qing and Lu Zhen.

Neither of them paid much mind to Lei Jun’s broad social network, nor to the fact that he had also accepted invitations from people like Chu Lin and Ye Cheng.

They certainly didn’t take it as a sign that Lei Jun, representing Tianshi Mansion, had fully aligned himself with the Confucian aristocratic families like the Ye Clan of Qingzhou and the Chu Clan of Suzhou.

Those figures merely sought to maintain a stable relationship with Tianshi Mansion, gauge Lei Jun’s stance, and anticipate any changes that might come with his potential leadership.

But the fact that the Crown Prince, Zhang Hui, personally left the Eastern Palace to visit Lei Jun was a different matter—one that warranted attention.

“The Crown Prince has been closely interacting with forces from Qingzhou, Suzhou, and Jingxiang in recent years, but it’s clear he won’t limit himself to just one side. With Tianshi Mansion on the rise, poised to reclaim its place as the leader of the Daoist sects, it’s only natural that he would not overlook them,” Shangguan Qing remarked.

He was certain that those same forces from Qingzhou, Suzhou, and Jingxiang would also be paying close attention to this development.

But it wasn’t exactly surprising.

The prestigious families of Qingzhou, including the Ye Clan, had indeed placed a significant wager on Zhang Hui.

However, they all understood that achieving great things required broad support.

At the very least, they could not afford to make enemies of everyone.

Oftentimes, it wasn’t necessary to have the majority on one’s side; merely ensuring that most remained neutral and did not oppose them was already an advantageous position.

The same principle applied to the Ye Clan of Qingzhou and the Chu Clan of Suzhou themselves.

Lu Zhen smirked. “I heard that His Highness frequently consults you on scholarly matters?”

Shangguan Qing chuckled. “The Crown Prince is a prodigy. I merely exchange a few ideas with him—'consultation' or 'instruction' would be too presumptuous on my part.”

Lu Zhen nodded slightly and said no more.

In recent years, Zhang Hui had begun to reveal his sharp edge.

For the Tang Empire, however, this introduced a degree of uncertainty.

After all, the reigning Empress was also exceptionally young.

Two suns in the sky—a sign that was far from auspicious.

That said, the Empress’s actions in recent years had indeed raised many eyebrows. It wasn’t just the Ye, Lin, Chu, and Fang Confucian families who were displeased…

“Tianshi Mansion’s resurgence from rock bottom has been too fast,” Lu Zhen remarked, changing the subject.

“Then again, the signs were always there. It’s just that no one expected that, besides Xu Yuanzhen and Tang Xiaotang, Lei Jun would also rise to prominence.”

At a glance, Tianshi Mansion seemed to have only one Ninth Heaven Daoist Grandmaster—Xu Yuanzhen.

Both Tang Xiaotang and Lei Jun were still at the Eighth Heaven level.

But their meteoric rise was simply too rapid!

According to the latest news, Tang Xiaotang had already reached the Perfection Stage of the Eighth Heaven.

At their current pace, how long would it be before Tianshi Mansion had multiple Ninth Heaven experts?

“At the very least, we can be certain that Tianshi Mansion will not follow the path of that so-called ‘Mortal Daoist Nation,’” Shangguan Qing said slowly.

Lu Zhen sighed in relief. “That is indeed fortunate.”

Shangguan Qing glanced toward Lianyun Temple. “Lei Chongyun of the Mysterious Firmament School is a man of peace. If he takes the position of Tianshi, I believe Tianshi Mansion will remain restrained.”

Lei Jun had little interest in the outside world’s speculations about him.

Right now, he was more focused on two things:

First, discussing historiography and its development with Meng Shaojie.

Second, following up on an acquaintance he had made during his visit to Lu Zhen’s residence.

The man’s name was Yu Cheng, the master of Huantang Hall in Luoyang—a renowned medical sect descended from the legendary Medicine King.

In martial traditions, there were three main paths: combat, body refinement, and medicine.

Yu Cheng and Huantang Hall were widely recognized as leaders of the medical lineage.

Lei Jun had engaged in an enjoyable conversation with Yu Cheng at Lu Zhen’s banquet, and Yu Cheng had specifically invited him to visit Huantang Hall later.

Today was the agreed-upon date. After checking his disciple Zhuo Baojie’s studies in the morning, Lei Jun prepared to leave.

Just then, Lin Shan arrived.

“Junior Brother Lei, heading out?”

“I have an invitation from Master Yu. I’m planning to visit Huantang Hall,” Lei Jun replied.

“Have you set a specific time?”

“No, just sometime today. Master Yu said I could come at any time, so I figured I’d go early. Is something the matter, Senior Brother?”

“Nothing major. There’s a Dharma Assembly, and you’re invited.”

Lin Shan handed him an invitation.

“The host is a princess of the imperial family. She has invited representatives from all major sects and noble families—Daoist, Buddhist, and Confucian alike—to gather and discuss philosophy. You’re specially invited to speak at the forum. If you’re interested, you could attend the assembly first and then visit Huantang Hall in the evening.”

Events like these were common in the capital, and Lei Jun had heard of them before.

For most, they were opportunities to build their reputation.

Lei Jun wasn’t particularly concerned with that.

However, the chance to engage in discourse with practitioners of various traditions intrigued him.

As he was considering it, a glowing sphere appeared in his mind, followed by a message:

【Fulfill your appointment or follow your heart—each choice holds its own fortune, yet all paths lead to the same destination.】

Then, three omens appeared:

【Upper-Moderate Omen】 Arriving at Huantang Hall at noon may lead to a Third-Grade Opportunity. No immediate risk, but there will be minor karmic entanglements to handle later. Proceed with caution.

【Upper-Moderate Omen】 Attending the White Horse Mountain Dharma Assembly at noon may lead to a Fifth-Grade Opportunity. No risks or consequences.

【Moderate-Moderate Omen】 Going elsewhere at noon will result in neither gains nor losses.

Lei Jun pondered for a moment before deciding.

“I won’t be attending the assembly today. I’ll head to Huantang Hall early.”

Yu Cheng bowed slightly, offering an apology to Lei Jun before instructing someone to prepare the meal.

Lei Jun’s expression remained unchanged.

As the time approached noon—the moment indicated in his omen—he began to carefully observe his surroundings.

If the Empress had not returned to Luoyang, Lei Jun could have openly turned the Great Celestial Mirror to survey the imperial capital and its outskirts.

However, since she was back, and Luoyang was the heart of the Great Tang, Lei Jun chose to act cautiously, avoiding direct use of the Great Celestial Mirror to prevent the Empress from noticing.

Even so, using his Celestial Sight and Earthly Hearing Talisman alongside his Heaven-Penetrating Talismanic Canon, he was still able to monitor the area around Hui Tiantang and check on his senior disciple, Zhuo Baojie.

Zhuo Baojie had accompanied Lin Shan to the White Horse Mountain Dharma Assembly.

Lei Jun’s absence was regrettable to some attendees, but no one could force him to attend, so the event proceeded as usual.

A certain little bear, being Lei Jun’s disciple, simply sat there quietly, keeping his eyes down, listening more and speaking less.

The morning passed without issue—until noon.

Suddenly, a commotion broke out at the Dharma Assembly.

Someone had discovered traces of heretical sects and demonic cultivators infiltrating White Horse Mountain.

The assembly quickly descended into chaos.

Lei Jun wasn’t concerned about his disciple or Lin Shan’s safety.

Though the assembly was in turmoil, no Upper Three Heavens cultivators had appeared to pose a real threat. Lin Shan, with his years of experience in the martial world, would be fine.

However, when Lei Jun tried to locate his martial nephew, Zhuo Baojie, he found that the disciple was nowhere to be seen… or rather, the bear was nowhere to be seen.

Using the Celestial Sight and Earthly Hearing Talisman, Lei Jun instantly knew where his disciple was.

Ah, so the moment chaos broke out, this little bear had seized the opportunity—first donning the Supreme Purity Eight Sceneries Treasure Mantle, then raising the Breath-Taking Flag.

He had originally intended to call out to his senior Lin Shan, but in the confusion, they had been separated.

Left with no choice, Zhuo Baojie continued searching for Lin Shan while staying under the protection of the Supreme Purity Eight Sceneries Treasure Mantle and the Breath-Taking Flag.

His cultivation was only at the Middle Three Heavens level, so he couldn’t fully unleash the power of these two artifacts.

However, since most of the attendees were also Middle Three Heavens cultivators, none of them could see through his concealment either.

Seeing this, Lei Jun felt reassured—there was no real danger.

As for whether his Fifth-Grade Opportunity, foretold by the omen, would appear? That was up to fate.

If it’s meant to be, it will be. If not, so be it. No need to dwell on it.

Lei Jun turned his attention back to the situation at Hui Tiantang.

At noon, his eyes flickered with the radiance of the Heaven-Penetrating Talismanic Canon, sensing movement outside.

Here they come, he thought.

However, Lei Jun remained still, continuing to sit calmly.

Moments later, a disciple of Hui Tiantang arrived and whispered a few words to Yu Cheng.

After listening, Yu Cheng turned to Lei Jun with an apologetic expression.

"Daoist Lei, please wait a moment. Something urgent has come up outside. I must step away to handle it. Please, enjoy your meal first."

Lei Jun nodded. "Go ahead, Layman Yu."

Yu Cheng left.

Lei Jun did not touch his chopsticks. He simply waited quietly.

Before long, tremors and loud disturbances could be heard outside.

Yu Cheng had yet to return, and the commotion outside was growing more intense.

Inside the hall, the disciples of Hui Tiantang stood uneasily.

Lei Jun calmly asked, "What’s happening outside?"

One disciple hesitated briefly before answering truthfully, "Senior Lei, it is said that people from Prince Zhao’s Manor have been found colluding with the White Lotus Sect. The Divine Strategy Army has moved in to apprehend them. But Prince Zhao’s people refuse to surrender, so..."

Lei Jun understood.

Prince Zhao, Zhang Teng, had been making headlines in Northern Youzhou recently.

Though he had never openly declared his intentions, many in the Great Tang had their suspicions about his ambitions.

However, it was unlikely that he would openly cooperate with the White Lotus Sect.

After all, the sect had been officially designated as rebels by the imperial family.

Whatever covert dealings he had were one thing.

But the more he coveted the throne, the less likely he was to publicly associate with organizations like the White Lotus Sect, Vast Void Temple, or the Mortal Dao Nation.

For such a scandal to break out now was highly unusual.

Moreover, the Divine Strategy Army wasn’t known for reckless action. They wouldn’t move against Prince Zhao’s Manor so lightly.

The clash between the two sides was unexpected.

At any other time, Lei Jun might have just watched from the sidelines.

However, with the battle unfolding so close to Hui Tiantang, it was about to be dragged into the conflict.

The duel between two Upper Three Heavens martial experts was controlled in its destruction, yet devastating nonetheless.

Wherever their strikes landed, death and destruction followed.

Their rapid movements made it seem as if multiple experts were fighting at once.

Buildings were collapsing like dry branches.

Half of Hui Tiantang had already been destroyed.

Whatever this Third-Grade Opportunity is, it must be here. If I hadn’t come at noon, Hui Tiantang might have been completely obliterated by this battle… Lei Jun mused.

With his Heaven-Penetrating Talismanic Canon flowing, the images of the two combatants came into focus.

Both were Martial Dao combatants.

One wielded a spear—Dong An, a commander of the Divine Strategy Army.

The other carried a halberd—Jiang Yuan, a general under Prince Zhao.

Jiang Yuan’s face was grim as he fought without restraint, disregarding the consequences of engaging the Divine Strategy Army.

Both combatants moved with lightning speed, their fighting styles similar in their explosiveness.

Yet, their martial philosophies differed.

Dong An favored relentless, rapid attacks, his spear raining down like a torrential storm from all directions.

Jiang Yuan, by contrast, met motion with stillness, his movements unpredictable. He blocked most of Dong An’s attacks with ease, launching only a few counterattacks—but when he did, they were swift and ruthless, forcing Dong An back repeatedly.

Yu Cheng wanted to intervene, but as a healer, direct combat was not his strength—even though he was a Seventh-Heaven cultivator.

Under normal circumstances, both fighters would have given Yu Cheng some face.

But right now, they were completely locked in battle.

If Yu Cheng tried to step in, he’d only end up impaled by a spear or halberd.

Beyond the duel, the soldiers of the Divine Strategy Army were now surrounding Jiang Yuan’s forces, escalating the battle further.

As Yu Cheng hesitated, a voice rang out:

"This is the imperial capital. What kind of conduct is this?"

He turned and saw Lei Jun stepping outside.

Lei Jun’s gaze swept over the ruined buildings of Hui Tiantang, his brows furrowing further.

However, he didn’t act immediately. Instead, he turned to Yu Cheng.

"Layman Yu?"

Yu Cheng sighed bitterly. "Daoist Lei, forgive this disgraceful display. But as you say, what kind of conduct is this? I lack the strength to stop them, so I must ask for your help."

"Layman Yu, you flatter me. I am not one for combat. But to prevent further escalation, I will try to intervene."

Lei Jun nodded slightly. Then, he vanished.

When he reappeared, he stood between Dong An and Jiang Yuan.

Both warriors' weapons—capable of splitting mountains and rivers—were already descending upon him.

Two Upper Three Heavens martial experts were stunned.

Then, in an instant, their vision blurred.

Amidst flickering starlight, a celestial deity cloaked in the radiance of the Star River manifested between them.

Tianshi Mansion's True Dao Legacy—Doumu Star God Apparition!

Lei Jun’s incarnation neither dodged nor blocked.

With his hands clasped behind his back, the starlit talismans swirling around him effortlessly deflected both weapons.

Then, thunder roared.

A Purple Yang Thunder Dragon and a Black Yin Thunder Dragon coiled around him.

In one swift motion, the Yang Thunder Dragon seized Dong An and his spear.

The Yin Thunder Dragon snatched Jiang Yuan in the same manner.

In an instant, the two martial experts were immobilized.

The sheer might of Lei Jun’s display sent shockwaves through the battlefield, forcing all combatants back.

Those who refused to retreat collapsed, paralyzed by the overwhelming force.

No one died.

As the celestial radiance faded, Lei Jun returned to his original form, calmly watching the two warriors.

"Generals, let’s settle down, shall we?"