Seeking Fortune and Avoiding Misfortune: Starting from the Celestial Master’s Mansion
Chapter 316: Three Arrows from Longhu Mountain

Lei Jun waved his hand, and the messy pages in front of him were neatly collected and stored away.

The brilliance of the Celestial Ground-Through Talisman in his eyes gradually faded.

As his cultivation and strength increased, the capabilities of this talisman grew more profound.

When Ye Feishan, who was also at the Eighth Heaven Realm, sent a "Letters as Face" message, Lei Jun was able to intercept it without Ye even realizing.

However, for this technique to work, both parties had to be within a certain distance.

For now, Lei Jun could only do this with the Southern Lin Clan and the Ye Clan of Cangzhou.

If he wanted to intercept messages from other Confucian cultivators, he needed to accumulate more power.

"Hmm, there’s still room for improvement," he nodded repeatedly.

As for Ye Feishan, Lei Jun didn’t need to actively monitor him.

As long as they were within a certain range, he would naturally sense any movements from the other party.

For now, he continued with his daily routine.

Being in the imperial capital, social engagements were constant.

Though his visit to Luoyang was partly to make a public appearance, he himself had little interest in political networking, only maintaining basic etiquette.

The outside world wasn’t surprised.

Lei Chongyun of Tianshi Mansion had always given the impression of being calm, polite, but detached.

He never shirked his responsibilities, observed all the necessary formalities, but never went beyond that.

And from the looks of it, even with the possibility of becoming the next Tianshi, he wasn’t about to change his personality.

Observers speculated what Tianshi Mansion’s future might look like under Lei Tianshi and how their own factions should adjust their relationships with him.

In response, representatives from various major forces in the capital promptly relayed their reports to their respective sects and ancestral lands.

Lei Jun expected this but wasn’t concerned.

Other than handling basic interactions, he seldom ventured outside.

Occasionally, he would accompany Lin Shan to the Imperial Academy, but most of his time was spent in Lianyun Temple, studying his newly acquired Senluo Jade Disc.

After thorough research, he compared his previous theoretical ideas with the actual artifact and finalized his plan.

Then, he took action.

Inside a quiet chamber at Lianyun Temple, Lei Jun unfolded the Breath-Taking Flag and donned the Supreme Purity Eight Sceneries Mantle, fully isolating himself from external disturbances.

Before him were four Confucian spiritual artifacts:

• Cyan Ocean Calligraphy Brush
• Superior Confucian Ink
• Haoran Parchment
• Moonlit Inkstone

Lei Jun did not use his Daoist mana to activate them directly.

Instead, he infused his power into the Senluo Jade Disc first.

A radiant light shimmered across the surface of the jade disc, condensing into a single beam that touched the Cyan Ocean Calligraphy Brush.

With the jade disc acting as an intermediary, the brush absorbed the energy smoothly, showing no resistance.

It floated into the air, automatically releasing waves of spiritual energy.

Then, Lei Jun guided another beam from the jade disc toward the Confucian Ink and Moonlit Inkstone.

The Confucian Ink rippled like black pine soot, its darkness dense and unyielding.

Meanwhile, the Moonlit Inkstone glowed with a soft silver radiance, casting the illusion of a full moon rising in front of Lei Jun.

The contrast of deep ink and gentle moonlight created a striking black-and-white harmony.

Soon, the ink merged into the moon’s glow.

The originally pure-white full moon turned black.

At the same time, the once-dark ink sea began to emit light.

At this moment, the Cyan Ocean Calligraphy Brush dipped into the ink, rising and falling in rhythmic strokes.

It began writing on the Haoran Parchment.

Countless characters appeared—scattered and chaotic at first glance.

But upon careful examination, they carried a vast yet elegant literary meaning.

Lei Jun observed patiently as one parchment after another was transformed into book pages.

He was not a Confucian cultivator.

He was merely replicating the vast array of Confucian texts he had encountered over the past decades.

When the Haoran Parchment was fully consumed, the Confucian Ink was also depleted, while the Cyan Ocean Calligraphy Brush and Moonlit Inkstone lost their spiritual essence, turning into mundane objects.

The words and book pages were then drawn into the Senluo Jade Disc, causing it to change.

No longer was it a pristine jade.

Instead, it had turned completely black, as though countless words and ink were embedded within it.

Its literary aura was now deeply hidden—subtle but boundless.

Seeing this, Lei Jun nodded with satisfaction.

"From this day forth, this artifact shall be called the Haoran Xuan Gui."

He stood up and placed the black jade around his neck.

Instantly, his entire aura transformed.

From an ethereal Daoist grandmaster, he now exuded the presence of a brilliant Confucian scholar.

Though...

"It’s just for show," Lei Jun chuckled at himself. "Playing the role of a cultured man."

If the opportunity arose, he even considered reshaping the Haoran Xuan Gui into a pair of glasses…

Shaking off the thought, he focused on inspecting the artifact.

With this jade in hand, whenever he used Daoist techniques, their outward appearance would be cloaked in Confucian Haoran Qi.

At least on the surface, it would be indistinguishable.

Of course, there were still flaws.

A high-level Confucian cultivator might see through the deception.

But…

Lei Jun spread his arms to either side.

Above him, the Supreme Purity Eight Sceneries Mantle descended, shrouding him in mist.

Now, dressed in this mantle, he was completely convincing—the very image of a great Confucian scholar.

"Hmm… still room for refinement," Lei Jun mused.

"If I can manifest my Daoist Divine Court, making it resemble the ‘Nation Within’ phenomenon of Eighth and Ninth Heaven Confucian cultivators, then the illusion will be flawless."

Nodding with satisfaction, he stored away the mantle and continued refining the Haoran Xuan Gui.

By late morning, his disciple Zhuo Baojie arrived with a report.

"Master, Scholar Meng Shaojie is here to visit."

Lei Jun had already concluded his refinement.

"Ah, yes. I did arrange to meet with him today. Bring him in."

Lately, Meng Shaojie had been visiting Lei Jun every few days.

Although he practiced Confucianism, his conversations with Lei Jun offered a different perspective than those with Confucian scholars like Xiao Chunhui.

Lei Jun welcomed these discussions.

In truth, Meng Shaojie’s ideas were still in their early stages, but his efforts in developing a new branch of Confucian studies were already bearing fruit.

Even Lei Jun found inspiration from their exchanges.

Different traditions held unique mysteries—this was one of the reasons Lei Jun remained passionate about cultivation.

"You are a scholar, but the world is unstable," Lei Jun remarked.

"Even in academia, you won’t always be buried in books—you’ll need to travel and investigate firsthand."

Meng Shaojie nodded.

"Master Lei is right. A true scholar must read ten thousand books and travel ten thousand miles."

Now in his thirties, Meng Shaojie had grown more composed and steady.

Yet in front of Lei Jun and Xiao Chunhui, he was much more relaxed—just like in his student days.

"Sir Xiao has guided me well over the years," Meng Shaojie continued.

"I have developed a few techniques and kept up with my swordsmanship. But I travel rarely, so my experience is lacking."

"No rush. Experience is built over time," Lei Jun said.

Turning to Zhuo Baojie, he gestured.

"If Scholar Meng doesn’t mind, I’d like you to practice together."

Zhuo Baojie, despite his bear-like appearance, had sharp eyes and gave a formal Daoist bow.

"If you would honor me, Scholar Meng, I’d be glad to exchange pointers."

Meng Shaojie quickly returned the courtesy.

"Many thanks, Master Lei. I appreciate the opportunity, Daoist Zhuo."

And so, the two began their sparring match—a clash between Confucian swordsmanship and Daoist spell arts.

"Rest assured, Daoist Zhuo," Meng Shaojie said. "I only recorded your palm technique just now for the sake of our sparring session. I’ll erase it afterward, and I certainly won’t use it to impersonate you in battle against others.

Moreover, even though I managed to replicate your palm strike, the fluctuations of Scholarly Aura make it clear that it’s not a genuine Daoist technique."

Zhuo Baojie nodded. "Mm. I can sense that too. No need for such formality, Layman Meng—I trust your character."

Then, curiosity got the better of him. "Layman Meng, can you keep accumulating techniques indefinitely?"

Meng Shaojie smiled bitterly. "Just as a person has physical limits, so too do books have an end. Of course, I can’t accumulate forever."

Zhuo Baojie sighed in admiration. "Even so, that’s really impressive."

He turned to Lei Jun. "Master, I heard that in Tianlong Monastery, the sacred land of the Buddhist Oath Lineage, there is a mystical ability that allows practitioners to manifest the techniques of others based on vows?"

Lei Jun nodded. "That’s true."

He then smiled at Meng Shaojie. "However, it’s not as meticulous as Layman Meng’s method. Your replication is flawless down to the last detail. While it’s easy to tell that its essence is rooted in Confucian cultivation, its outward appearance is nearly indistinguishable from the real thing."

Meng Shaojie gave a respectful bow. "I am young and inexperienced, often feeling inadequate. If not for Senior Lei’s guidance, I wouldn’t have gained as much insight as I have."

Lei Jun shook his head. "I merely observed and shared some thoughts. I dare not claim credit."

A Shift in Focus

In the days that followed, Meng Shaojie’s visits to Lianyun Temple became less frequent.

It wasn’t because he had grown distant from Lei Jun, but rather because his conversations with Lei Jun had sparked new insights. Now, he needed time to process and refine his discoveries.

Lei Jun was pleased to see this.

This shared pursuit of knowledge was precisely why he and Meng Shaojie had developed such a strong rapport.

After spending some time in Luoyang, Lei Jun received another imperial summons.

He entered the palace to meet the Empress.

This time, it wasn’t in the Lakeside Pavilion, but within one of the grand halls.

When Lei Jun arrived, Empress Zhang Wantong was inside, reviewing memorials.

"Give Minister Lei a seat."

Without looking up, the reigning Tang Empress issued the order while continuing her work.

Once Lei Jun was seated, a prepared memorial was brought forward and handed to him.

Lei Jun took it and began reading.

His expression remained calm as he read through it.

"The West… Bai Di?"

In the Battle of Mount Longhu, Tianshi Mansion had clashed with the Mortal Dao Nation.

Huang Xuanpu had personally appeared.

Given the choice, he wouldn’t have revealed himself so easily. Even if he did, he would have concealed his true identity as he had in the past.

But in the end, Tianshi Mansion had dealt a crushing defeat to the Mortal Dao Nation, slaying Thousand-Leaf Butterfly King, Rong Guangchen, Wei Qiyue, and others—while forcing Huang Xuanpu to expose himself.

As a result, Huang Xuanpu could no longer return to Pure Yang Palace.

The Tang Imperial Court hadn’t made things too difficult for Pure Yang Palace, but they had conducted multiple thorough investigations inside and out.

Huang Xuanpu had always been cautious, but having spent so many years at Pure Yang Palace in Zhongnan Mountain, he had inevitably left some traces.

After continuous analysis and scrutiny, the Imperial Court had finally made some progress—though it was little.

The information they had now wasn’t enough to track Huang Xuanpu down.

Among the few valuable pieces of intelligence was one particular clue, now placed before the Empress and Lei Jun.

When members of the Mortal Dao Nation addressed Huang Xuanpu, they had referred to him as Emperor.

Could this title suggest a connection to the so-called Western Bai Di (White Emperor)?

More intriguingly, if the directions were being distinguished, that implied at least three or four others of equal standing.

But where had they come from?

Shushan Sect Master Fu Dongsen had acknowledged Huang Xuanpu as the leader of the Mortal Dao Nation and called him Emperor. That meant Fu Dongsen himself couldn’t be one of these figures.

If this title followed a strict system of correspondence, then among the Daoist Great Ascension Realm experts in the world today, aside from Huang Xuanpu, only Xu Yuanzhen remained.

Even if Xu Yuanzhen was added to the equation, what about the other two or three missing figures?

Were they nonexistent?

Could they be high-level experts from other traditions?

The Empress finally lifted her gaze, looking at Lei Jun.

Lei Jun placed the memorial down.

"Your Majesty, I believe this information requires further verification."

"This claim may be true," he continued, "but it could also be a deliberate misdirection by Huang Xuanpu—a bluff to exaggerate his strength, or even an attempt to shift blame onto others."

The Empress gave a slight nod.

"Summon Minister Xu and Minister Tang to continue the investigation. Once Minister Lei returns to Mount Longhu, you will lead Tianshi Mansion in uncovering the truth behind this matter."

Lei Jun rose and bowed.

"As you command, Your Majesty."

From start to finish, the Empress never mentioned anything regarding the Heavenly Book Universe.

Lei Jun, in turn, did not bring it up.

Returning to Mount Longhu

After leaving the palace, it was time for Lei Jun and his disciples to begin their journey back to Mount Longhu.

Lin Shan had also waited for his replacement to arrive.

After making their report to Lei Jun, the other Daoist remained behind while Lin Shan accompanied Lei Jun’s group southward.

Lei Jun had no objections.

Before their departure, the palace bestowed generous rewards upon them.

A large quantity of basic spiritual resources was granted to Tianshi Mansion, ensuring that the younger disciples would benefit in the years to come.

For Lei Jun himself, the Tang Imperial Court had prepared a personal treasure—one meant to help him reach new heights.

This treasure was called Purple Palace Ethereal Mist.

Refining it would enhance a cultivator’s attunement with heaven and earth, facilitating a stronger connection between their existence and the mortal realm.

This benefit extended beyond the Talismanic Branch of Daoism—it was invaluable to practitioners of Alchemical Daoism, Artifact Refining Daoism, as well as Confucian Recitation and Classical Studies Traditions.

For talismanic cultivators in particular, refining the Purple Palace Ethereal Mist would deepen their understanding of the macrocosm and microcosm, strengthening their Divine Court.

In time, it could even aid in advancing from the Eighth-Heaven Third-Tier Divine Court to the Eighth-Heaven Fourth-Tier Divine Summit.

For Lei Jun, this gift was both well-matched to his path and incredibly valuable.

However, he wasn’t in a hurry to refine it.

He had unique ideas about his Divine Court’s External Projection, which he intended to contemplate further after returning to Mount Longhu.

For now, Lei Jun, his disciples, and Lin Shan departed the capital.

An Unexpected Turn

Surprisingly, Crown Prince Zhang Hui had received the Empress’s approval for his second journey of exploration.

With the Empress back in the capital, the Crown Prince relinquished his role as Regent.

Typically, an heir to the throne had few opportunities to leave the capital.

Yet, the Empress permitted Zhang Hui to travel once more.

His first journey had taken him to the Three Great Daoist Holy Lands: Pure Yang Palace, Shushan Sect, and Tianshi Mansion.

This time, he planned to visit the Four Great Buddhist Sacred Sites.

As fate would have it, his journey south coincided with Lei Jun’s route—at least for a while.

But then, something unexpected happened.

A glowing Light Sphere flickered in Lei Jun’s mind, revealing words:

【The young dragon walks a perilous path; the land's fate begins.】

And then, three omens appeared…

A Choice of Paths

As the words materialized in his mind, Lei Jun saw three corresponding omens:

【Supreme Good Omen】 – Do not escort Zhang Hui further. Instead, head west-south to Luping Mountain. There, you will obtain a Third-Grade Opportunity with no risks or lingering troubles. Great fortune!

【Moderate-Moderate Omen】 – Travel to Tiangu Ridge. You may encounter some minor turbulence, but it will not be significant. No additional gains, neutral outcome.

【Moderate-Moderate Omen】 – Neither go to Luping Mountain nor Tiangu Ridge, and simply return via other paths such as Lixian Mountain. No gains, no losses. Neutral outcome.

Luping Mountain… Lei Jun contemplated.

This was the path indicated by the Supreme Good Omen.

Which meant that even if he did not accompany Crown Prince Zhang Hui further, he still had to alter his original route—bypassing Lixian Mountain in favor of Luping Mountain.

An Imperial Journey and a Crossroads

Prince Zhang Hui’s planned journey was well-organized, though he was taking a relatively modest retinue.

Nevertheless, his entourage still included representatives from various factions, given his intent to visit the Great Buddhist Sacred Sites such as Southern Bodhi Monastery, Tianlong Monastery, and Xuanyan Temple.

Even Western Region Buddhism had sent figures to accompany him, despite his itinerary initially excluding the Western territories.

As they traveled south, Zhuo Baojie observed several monks boarding the Crown Prince’s carriage.

Lei Jun, noticing his gaze, asked casually, “Feeling envious?”

Zhuo Baojie shook his head. “No, Master. I was just reminded of the debate I overheard at the White Horse Mountain Dharma Assembly.”

After a brief pause, he added, “Some of the Buddhist masters’ arguments left me with lingering doubts—particularly regarding their discussion on The Three Lifetimes of Karma.”

Lei Jun replied, “It’s normal for one lifetime’s karma to affect another, and past-life karma can be considered an interesting concept.

But one does not need belief in reincarnation to perform good deeds. If more people in the world acted with kindness and righteousness, it would be for the better.

However, if someone tries to convince you that your past-life karma has condemned you to suffering in this life, stay away from them.

They may not be the direct cause of your suffering, but they will surely make you endure even more.”

Zhuo Baojie seemed to half-understand, but he quickly nodded. “Understood, Master. I will remember this.”

Since they were speaking privately, Lin Shan joined the conversation without reservation. He sighed and said,

“In the past, only Xuanyan Temple emphasized this perspective, but in recent centuries, both Tianlong Monastery and Bodhi Monastery have been pushing this idea more and more.”

“That’s because the ruling powers favor it,” Lei Jun said plainly.

“The imperial court and the traditions of Daoism, Buddhism, and Confucianism constantly influence one another—and will continue to do so.”

Lin Shan smiled wryly. “Lei Shidi, you should be careful with your words.”

Lei Jun responded, “The reigning Empress is fond of making bold moves, but she does not seem overly invested in this particular matter.”

Lin Shan subtly glanced at the Crown Prince’s carriage.

But whether Empress Zhang Wantong would change her stance in the future—or how her successor would govern—remained uncertain…

Whispers of Concern

While Lei Jun and his companions engaged in casual conversation, others were also quietly observing them.

“Her Majesty bestowed Purple Palace Ethereal Mist upon Lei Chongyun of Mount Longhu. Does she not fear that the power may grow beyond control?”

Riding the wind behind the Crown Prince’s carriage, Ye Song of the Ye Clan in Qingzhou spoke softly to Ye Cheng.

The Purple Palace Ethereal Mist would accelerate Lei Jun’s progress—helping him advance swiftly through the Eighth-Heaven Third-Tier Divine Court and potentially even reach the Eighth-Heaven Fourth-Tier Divine Summit.

Even though the chasm between the Eighth-Heaven and Ninth-Heaven realms remained an immense tribulation, Lei Jun’s rapid rise—given his current age and momentum—was undeniably alarming to others.

And Mount Longhu didn’t only have Lei Jun.

Xu Yuanzhen was already at the Ninth Heaven.

Tang Xiaotang, who had recently caused a stir while traveling outside, was confirmed to have reached Eighth-Heaven Perfection.

Now, with Lei Jun rising alongside them, the three formed a formidable trio.

Unless Lei Jun or Tang Xiaotang perished in the Heavenly Chasm Tribulation between the Eighth and Ninth Heavens, a future where Mount Longhu housed three Daoist Great Ascension Sages was becoming more and more plausible.

It wasn’t just the Ye Clan in Qingzhou or the Confucian aristocratic families of the Tang Dynasty—even external factions had reason for concern.

Would the Tang Imperial Court truly tolerate such overwhelming power flourishing within its own borders?

“We made a mistake choosing Bodhi Monastery over Mount Longhu, just as Youzhou and Cangzhou did,” Ye Song admitted.

Ye Cheng remained indifferent. “A mistake is a mistake. We must accept the consequences. There is nothing more to say.”

He turned his gaze back toward Imperial Luoyang.

“Her Majesty is known for her unpredictability. This can work against us—but it can also be an opportunity, depending on how we maneuver.”

Then, he looked back at Ye Song.

“For now, do not act rashly.”

Ye Song acknowledged the order.

Parting Ways and an Unforeseen Path

The southern-bound procession was approaching the point where their routes would diverge.

One group would head eastward past Huai Mountain and Tiangu Ridge toward Southern Bodhi Monastery.

The other would continue southward, crossing Lixian Mountain and entering the Yunxiao Mountain Range en route to Mount Longhu.

Prince Zhang Hui was reluctant to part ways.

“I hope I will have the chance to visit Tianshi Mansion and see Senior Lei again.”

Lei Jun remained composed. “The doors of Tianshi Mansion are always open to Your Highness.”

Yet, as he spoke, his mind flickered with revelation.

The Light Sphere in his consciousness glowed once more, presenting new omens:

【Supreme Good Omen】 – Do not escort Zhang Hui further. Instead, head west-south to Luping Mountain. There, you will obtain a Third-Grade Opportunity with no risks or lingering troubles. Great fortune!

【Moderate-Moderate Omen】 – Travel to Tiangu Ridge. You may encounter some minor turbulence, but it will not be significant. No additional gains, neutral outcome.

【Moderate-Moderate Omen】 – Neither go to Luping Mountain nor Tiangu Ridge, and simply return via other paths such as Lixian Mountain. No gains, no losses. Neutral outcome.

Lei Jun’s eyes gleamed.

Luping Mountain… That’s the omen of supreme fortune.

Even if he didn’t send off the Crown Prince, it seemed his path was now set—not through Lixian Mountain, but through Luping Mountain.