Seeking Fortune and Avoiding Misfortune: Starting from the Celestial Master’s Mansion
Chapter 323: The old man of the Ye family is old and has a bad memory

After releasing his “arrow,” Lei Jun immediately turned and left, heading back toward Zuming Abyss.

That single, fierce and dazzling “arrow” stunned everyone present.

Just moments before, Shangguan Yunbo had been muttering about how Ye Morong had vanished mid-fight.

Now it seemed the man had been preparing for this earth-shattering shot all along?

Across from them, Li Yan's eyes went bloodshot as he slashed at Shangguan Yunbo to force him back, then charged at full speed to his son Li Yongzong’s corpse.

He let out a roar that shook heaven and earth, then in a flash, darted straight toward the direction of Zuming Abyss in pursuit.

As Li Yan gave chase, beams of azure-blue light occasionally shot out from the black mist ahead, flying directly at him.

Eyes blood-red, face ashen, he neither dodged nor avoided—only slashed his blade to deflect the beams while pushing his speed to the maximum, relentlessly hunting down that Confucian master archer.

As he neared Zuming Abyss, a flicker of change crossed Li Yan’s face.

His familiarity with the Nether Sea far surpassed that of any human cultivator.

And now, Zuming Abyss appeared to be triggering a Prison Abyss shift?

Sure enough, just as he slowed down, a massive whirlpool formed over the western waters of Zuming Abyss—swallowing the sky and engulfing the sea like an inferno, a living purgatory.

The unique extreme-yin prison fire of the Nether Sea erupted, burning sky and boiling ocean.

Li Yan’s expression remained unreadable. Though he had paused, now he resumed moving forward at a steady pace, his blood-red blade dancing continuously.

His hatred for the Confucian archer who killed his son had now overtaken any concern for his own safety.

He grit his teeth and withstood the threat of the abyssal maelstrom and the prison fire's entanglement. Only when he saw Ye Morong’s treasured bow and several ceremonial items burning as they were devoured by the vortex did he finally stop.

The Patriarch of the Broken Li Clan let out another furious roar, then used his Ninth Heaven cultivation to force his way out of the Prison Abyss’s shifting zone.

Once out, he continued to glare furiously in the direction of Zuming Abyss.

Though it seemed the old scholar had perished from unfamiliarity with the Nether Sea’s environment, Li Yan was still seething with rage at not being able to kill him with his own hands.

He now carried several items.

These were among the few ceremonial tools that survived after Yang Yuqi’s rite had been broken.

Li Yan abruptly turned back toward the Void Portal connecting the Nether Sea to the mortal realm.

His blood-red eyes looked as if they were burning.

He took a deep breath. The fire in his eyes faded, but not the hatred. Instead, it congealed into a colder, sharper killing intent.

He turned around at once and returned to regroup with the rest of the Broken Li Clan under Li De’s command.

For him and the Broken Li Clan, resolving the immediate crisis came before all else.

As for the death of Li Yongzong...

“Where are those Xuanyuan survivors?” Li Yan asked a nearby clan elder.

He was referring to the former Sui remnants who had come with Yang Yuqi to the Nether Sea.

The elder looked into the distance. “Over there, but two more just died.”

Li Yan replied, “As long as some are still alive, that's enough. From now on, keep a close watch on them. Once they're settled, I have questions for them.”

With Yang Yuqi dead, the remaining Sui descendants were still Confucian cultivators, but none matched Yang Yuqi in bloodline or cultivation.

A ceremony like the previous one would be hard to replicate.

But they knew about the Great Tang Realm.

Li Yan believed they could tell him more—

More about the old scholar who killed Li Yongzong.

…

Taking advantage of the Prison Abyss shift within Zuming Abyss to block Li Yan, Lei Jun used the Eight Scenes Cloak of Taiqing to swiftly escape that treacherous place.

After that, he vanished from sight.

The Nether Sea was a hazardous and complex place, so it wasn’t hard for Lei Jun to find a hidden spot to lie low.

Though such places weren’t always safe.

He unfurled the Eight Scenes Cloak of Taiqing, hiding himself in the void, then began quietly meditating.

Those few “arrows” had cost him greatly—one shot alone consumed more than even launching his Magnetic Flying Sword.

“This newly crafted divine ability still needs plenty of refinement,” Lei Jun thought to himself.

Still, its power and effectiveness were already passable.

And that was with the added disguise from the Haoran Mystic Tablet.

If he had used his own Daoist techniques directly, the prep time would've been even shorter… Lei Jun pondered silently.

While immersed in thought, he suddenly felt a shift—his eyes flashed with the radiance of the Heaven-Earth Communication Talisman.

Senior Sister Tang Xiaotang had sent word:

“Vei Ancheng’s dead. I took care of him.”

She didn’t sound especially thrilled, but her tone still carried a triumphant swagger.

Lei Jun replied, “Senior Sister, your very first breakthrough into the Ninth Heaven, and already you’ve slain the head of a Witch Sect sanctuary? The whole world will be shaken!”

Tang Xiaotang gave a dry cough. “C’mon, he was already injured when I found him.”

Even though she wasn’t physically present, Lei Jun could almost picture her pacing proudly in front of him, her imaginary tail perked up in pride.

“Back when Vei Ancheng left closed-door cultivation from Chaoyang Peak in the Southern Mountains, he ran into Gao Pu of Gold Castle, Cao Chu, and Ye Han and Ye Lingxi from Jinzhou. In the end, Gao Pu and Ye Han were seriously wounded, Cao Chu and Ye Lingxi were killed. He used two Seventh Heaven cultivators to blood his blade the moment he emerged.”

Lei Jun continued, “But now the tables have turned. You’ve emerged in turn, Senior Sister, and used Vei Ancheng himself as your first trophy. One generation rises as the previous falls—those who kill must be prepared to be killed.”

Tang Xiaotang finally laughed. “Mm, well said...”

But then she remembered something: “Someone tried to mess with me while I was crossing that sky-chasm tribulation, right? Wasn’t it one of the Jiuli tribesmen?”

Lei Jun: “It was the Broken Li Clan's patriarch—Li Yan.”

Tang Xiaotang: “Right, that’s the one. I’ll settle that score along with Vei Ancheng’s!”

Lei Jun briefly recounted everything that had happened around Zuming Abyss: “It was just a spur-of-the-moment attempt. If it worked, great. If not, no big loss. No need to overthink it—just follow your own instincts.”

Tang Xiaotang: “Are you planning to return to the mountain now?”

Lei Jun: “I just obtained the Ziwei Sword. I have some thoughts about the Daoist Kingdom in the mortal realm. Once I’m back, I’ll begin preparations.”

“Good. Then take the Tianshi Seal back with you as well,” Tang Xiaotang said. “I’ll stay behind and hunt down Li Yan a bit longer. Let me know when you’re ready.”

Guided by her Heaven-Earth Perception Talisman, Lei Jun went to meet her.

Aside from the Tianshi Seal, Tang Xiaotang handed him another item: “Found this in one of Vei Ancheng’s hideouts. Useless to me. You figure out what to do with it.”

She waved, and a radiant glow appeared before Lei Jun.

It was a humanoid figure over eight feet tall, standing upright before him.

As Lei Jun examined it closely, he realized it was a jade-carved statue. Its features were vague—humanoid in shape but faceless.

The jade was pure white, yet within its translucent body, flashes of blood-red light pulsed constantly.

Inside the clear stone, countless vein-like lines flickered with bloodlight.

Some were thick, others thin—like an actual human vascular system.

A strong scent of blood emanated naturally from within, chilling to the core.

[Blood-Marrow Jade Body]

As the name surfaced in his mind, Lei Jun immediately knew—this was the fourth-tier treasure mentioned in one of those higher fortune slips.

It had once been one of Vei Ancheng’s most prized possessions.

For a Blood River cultivator, this was an unparalleled treasure—far beyond what a fourth-tier fortune could convey.

But for Daoist talisman cultivators like Lei Jun and Tang Xiaotang, its value was more limited.

“Don’t worry, Vei Ancheng is deader than dead,” Tang Xiaotang said with a smirk. “I’ve checked—this thing isn’t some kind of rebirth trap.”

Lei Jun nodded and stored it away for further consideration.

He then parted ways with Tang Xiaotang and left the Nether Sea, returning to the mortal realm.

At this point, Elder Lei once again adopted the appearance of a man injured in battle—his aura weak, his energy depleted.

When Shangguan Yunbo and the others heard the news, they naturally offered concern and comfort to Elder Lei of Mount Longhu.

This battle, despite the fact that Li Yan and Li De were still alive, had resulted in Lei Jun and Tang Xiaotang eliminating both Yang Yuqi and Vei Ancheng—removing major threats to the Tang Imperial Court.

And though Lei Jun had returned to the mortal realm, Tang Xiaotang remained behind.

With the Broken Li and Binding Li Clans unable to reverse the tide, they had no choice but to abandon the ancestral lands south of Xiongbai Mountain.

Victory for the Tang cultivators was now certain. It was merely a matter of tallying the final outcome.

When word of the Nether Sea battle and Tang Xiaotang’s breakthrough to the Ninth Heaven reached the mortal realm, it caused a massive stir across the Great Tang and beyond.

To Lei Jun, it all now felt like it no longer concerned him.

He was back on Mount Longhu.

Later, once the battle truly ended, the Jiuli tribes, more familiar and adaptable to the Nether Sea, finally managed to break out by relocating rather than holding ground.

Though they paid a price in casualties, they ultimately escaped Tang Xiaotang, Shangguan Yunbo, and the others.

With that, the Divine Strategy Army of the Great Tang withdrew.

Due to the ongoing instability of the Nether Sea, there was no current method to seal the Void Portal between it and the mortal realm. The Tang cultivators could only leave a small garrison to monitor both sides of the passage.

Tang Xiaotang reluctantly returned to the mountain.

Shen Qubing also rotated off the front lines to rest and recover in the mortal realm.

He hadn’t forgotten the help he received back in the Celestial Tome Universe and had never made empty promises.

He had indeed gained something in the Nether Sea, and now intended to repay those who helped him.

To Lei Jun—Mars of Taibai—the gift he received from Shen Qubing, Mars of Yinghuo, was a rare treasure called Dust of the Passing Waters.

This rare item involved the mysteries of time.

Lei Jun himself didn’t have much use for it, but had remembered Xu Yuanzhen once asking him to keep an eye out for time-related spiritual items.

Now, having found one, he quietly accepted it.

Once it was in hand, he informed Xu Yuanzhen and began studying its mysteries himself.

As the southern Nether Sea rebellion came to an end, the Tang Empire finally entered a period of peace.

The southern commander, Shangguan Yunbo, and others finally returned in triumph.

Everyone who participated in the Nether Sea battle received rewards from the Tang court.

As for Lei Jun and the others from the Tianshi Mansion, they didn’t need to travel to the capital. An imperial envoy delivered the edict and rewards.

What the envoy gave Lei Jun left him quite intrigued.

It was undoubtedly a top-tier treasure—

The Innate Dual Essence Soul.

Even more potent than the Purple Mansion Mist he’d received earlier.

This treasure was said to have been born at the creation of the world, where yin and yang, innate and acquired, first diverged.

By this era, it was an absolutely rare gem.

Its applications were endless, especially for those who cultivated yin-yang dualities.

For Lei Jun, it was perfectly suited.

With it, breaking through the third tier of the Eighth Heaven to manifest his Divine Palace exterior scene would be far easier—and it aligned well with his vision for that manifestation.

In both timing and resonance, it couldn’t have been more ideal.

Yet alongside his satisfaction, Lei Jun had to ponder another issue:

Had the Empress already confirmed that his immortal body was of the Yin-Yang Dual Essence type?

He had previously received the Earth Core Flame Heart used to hasten his training of the Yinfire Tiger from the Empress.

That was said to be for general use among his sect.

But his Celestial Tome followed the transformations of Yin and Yang’s dual essence…

It wouldn’t be surprising if the Empress had guessed at the truth.

Now she sent him the Innate Dual Essence Soul…

Lei Jun accepted it calmly. He had already been mentally prepared for this since the day he traded for the Earth Core Flame Heart.

With a composed expression, he accepted the treasure from Prince Xiang, Zhang Luo: “Thank Her Majesty for this gift.”

Zhang Luo looked at Lei Jun and recalled their first meeting in the Southern Wilds. It had been less than ten years.

He had believed in Lei Jun’s talent and potential even back then.

But even he hadn’t expected things to change this fast, this drastically.

“Among all the contributions in the Southern War, Daoist Lei, yours is among the greatest!” Zhang Luo said solemnly, setting aside his personal reflections.

The Tang court had named five individuals for top merit in the Nether Sea campaign.

Commander-in-Chief Shangguan Yunbo, with his years of effort in the Southern Wilds, was beyond reproach.

Then there were the current Celestial Master Tang Xiaotang, the Tianshi Mansion’s Xuanxiaozi—Daoist Lei—and the veteran Divine Strategy general from Cangzhou, Ye Morong.

Each of them had struck down one of the campaign’s major enemies:

Vei Ancheng, Ninth Heaven blood sect master.

The remnants of the Former Sui Dynasty in the Eighth Heaven—Prince Shengkang, Yang Yuqi.

The Young Patriarch of the Po Li Clan in the Eighth Heaven—Li Yongzong.

In addition to them, the Po Li and Bi Li Clans each lost an Elder of the Eighth Heaven and several of the Seventh Heaven.

However, in terms of influence and importance, none matched the three names mentioned above.

Another key contributor to victory was Shen Qubing.

He did what no one expected: he successfully borrowed troops from the Wu Li Clan and then disrupted the ceremonial reception Yang Yuqi had arranged for the Po Li and Bi Li Clans. It was a truly remarkable achievement.

“It's a pity. Though Old General Ye shot and killed Li Yongzong, he was later pursued by Li Yan. From all subsequent signs, he likely perished in the calamity of the Earth Sea,” Zhang Luo said slowly.

Lei Jun’s expression remained indifferent. He showed no schadenfreude, but neither did he appear mournful. “In the war between the Human Realm and the Nine Li, it’s a loss for our side.”

As for Ye Morong being credited as a key contributor for “killing” Li Yongzong, Daoist Lei’s view was:

Fair enough.

The five of us did a great job.

Grand General Shangguan Yunbo returned to the Imperial Capital, and Prince Xiang Zhang Luo temporarily took his place to oversee the Earth Sea in the Southern Wilds.

After meeting with Lei Jun, Tang Xiaotang, Yuan Mobai, and others, he departed southward.

As for rewards for the Ye Clan of Cangzhou, others would handle them.

Lei Jun began studying the newly acquired Ziwei Sword—acclimating to its spirit and preparing plans centered around it.

---

In the snowy north, a black-robed old Daoist with an aura of immortality stood alone, gazing into the distance.

After a while, he withdrew his gaze and looked to the other side.

There, a middle-aged Daoist in plain robes and straw sandals appeared—it was Fu Dongsen, former head of the Shushan Sect.

He approached and bowed to the black-robed elder. “Greetings, Your Majesty.”

The elder was none other than Huang Xuanpu, former head of the Pure Yang Palace.

“You’ve worked hard, Dongsen.” Huang Xuanpu stared into the snowy horizon. “Have you heard the news from the south?”

Fu Dongsen replied, “Somewhat. But alas, it’s too late.”

Tang Xiaotang, astonishingly, was in the Earth Sea—facing overwhelming enemies while undergoing the tribulation between the Eighth and Ninth Heavens.

The Tianshi Seal had even left Mount Longhu and appeared in the Earth Sea.

Unfortunately, the Human Realm’s Dao Nation didn’t receive the intel in time.

“Time and fate... when the moment hasn’t come, you can't force it,” said Huang Xuanpu.

Fu Dongsen lowered his head. “Yes.”

But this failure would make it even harder in the future.

Tang Xiaotang had successfully broken through to the Ninth Heaven.

As someone who had been stuck at the peak of the Eighth Heaven for many years, Fu Dongsen knew better than anyone how hard that was.

Yet this young Tianshi had done it.

She was the kind of person who made others feel the gap between talent and the heavens.

Fu Dongsen was used to storms and remained calm.

But Tang Xiaotang’s ascension and her overpowering might—killing Wei Ancheng, a fellow Ninth Heaven cultivator, right after emerging—were shocking.

Add to that Xu Yuanzhen, who had already defeated the veteran powerhouse Ye Moquan, and the Tianshi Mansion now had two Ninth Heaven masters. It made the world take notice.

It had been many years since the Tianshi Mansion had seen two Great Transcendent cultivators at the same time.

Such a powerful sacred land could even cause unease within the Tang Dynasty’s imperial family.

Especially since Xu Yuanzhen and Tang Xiaotang’s achievements were even more impressive than those of the eminent monks Master Jiasheng and Master Renzhu from the Western Region.

Meanwhile, inside the Tianshi Mansion, Lei Chongyun was also rapidly rising.

In the Earth Sea battle, he fended off both Li Yan and Wei Ancheng—two Ninth Heaven powerhouses—to protect Tang Xiaotang. That, too, earned him attention.

But it was said he was injured in the process and had to return to Mount Longhu to recover.

His current condition remained uncertain.

“The Tianshi Seal is still the top priority,” said Huang Xuanpu. “But now is not the time to act rashly. For now, focus on the Ziwei Sword and Qingxiao Palace.”

Fu Dongsen fully agreed. “Yes, Your Majesty.”

Huang Xuanpu asked, “Have you made any progress recently?”

Fu Dongsen replied, “I wouldn’t call it progress, but I’ve made some preparations regarding the Ziwei Sword.”

Huang Xuanpu nodded. “I’ll be entering seclusion soon. You’ll handle outside affairs in the meantime.”

Fu Dongsen: “Rest assured, Your Majesty.”

Was this elder about to reach the peak of the Ninth Heaven in the Daoist Danding Lineage—Five Qi Toward the Mysterious?

At his age, maintaining his current level was already a feat. Breaking through again should be nearly impossible.

But with the Celestial Palace Talisman and the Penglai Secret Realm, perhaps there were exceptions...

“The visitors from the Ming Realm—you’ll be hosting them too,” Huang Xuanpu instructed. “Treat them well.”

Fu Dongsen: “Yes.”

He had recently learned where the Western White Emperor came from.

It turned out to be another Human Realm connected to the Mandate of Heaven—the Ming Realm.

Now, Daoists under the Western White Emperor had arrived via Penglai. Their real intentions were worth pondering...

“Your Majesty, I’ve heard that in that Human Realm, our Daoism is weak and heavily suppressed by the Confucians?” Fu Dongsen asked softly.

Huang Xuanpu smiled. “The Talisman Lineage has declined. But the Danding and Forging Lineages still survive.

Daoism isn’t prominent there, but after years of quiet development, it’s gradually gaining some traction.”

Fu Dongsen seemed thoughtful.

Then he reported another matter: “Your Majesty, recently, the Yellow Springs have been increasingly active and are contacting the Human Realm more often.”

Huang Xuanpu: “Like the Earth Sea, the Yellow Springs are not kind places. For now, don’t act rashly—wait and see.”

Fu Dongsen nodded in agreement.

As Huang Xuanpu’s figure slowly vanished into the snow, Fu Dongsen also left.

He headed east to the sea.

Over the vast blue waters, he took out a talisman Huang Xuanpu had given him.

Fu Dongsen activated it, and as it burned, light shimmered. A void portal slowly formed over the ocean.

Soon, shadows appeared within.

Then, a man and a woman stepped out—both wearing Daoist robes.

The man’s robe was rare in the Tang Dynasty, while the woman’s clothing resembled Fu Dongsen’s: plain robes and straw sandals, clearly also of the Shushan Forging Lineage.

They were Shushan cultivators from another Human Realm.

“Brother Shang, Daoist Xue Xingzi—welcome,” Fu Dongsen greeted them calmly.

The man’s name was Shang Nan. He smiled and asked, “Daoist Fu?”

Fu Dongsen replied, “I am Fu Dongsen.”

The female cultivator, whose Daoist title was Xue Xingzi, gazed at Fu Dongsen for a moment before bowing back. “Senior Brother Fu...”

Fu Dongsen smiled and led them to his hidden residence on the Eastern Sea.

“Is the Northern Emperor currently...” Shang Nan asked softly en route.

Fu Dongsen: “You arrived at a bad time. His Majesty is in seclusion. But before that, he instructed me to receive you and send his regards to the Western Emperor.”

Shang Nan: “Of course.”

To Fu Dongsen’s face, the two were polite.

But after he left, Xue Xingzi spoke: “They say the Tianshi Mansion’s Three Treasures and the Universal Law Altar are all here in the Tang Realm. The Forging Lineage has the Azure-Violet Twin Swords left by Ancestor Baimei.”

Shang Nan: “No need to rush. Let’s observe the situation in secret first, report back, and await the Western Emperor’s decision.”

Xue Xingzi: “Looks like the Northern Emperor’s position here in the Tang Realm isn’t very strong. He hasn’t truly established anything.”

Shang Nan: “To establish a Dao Nation in the Human Realm means making enemies. That’s the same no matter where you are.”

Xue Xingzi gazed into the distance. “So this is the Northern Emperor’s candidate for the future head of the Daoist Sect?”

She didn’t name names, but Shang Nan knew she meant Fu Dongsen. “I believe so.”

Xue Xingzi: “Then he’s your rival.”

Shang Nan smiled. “That’s still far away. Who knows what might change in the future?”

Xue Xingzi nodded slightly.

To be head of the Daoist Sect was to lead the entire Daoist world.

Each sacred land had a sect leader.

But only the head of the Daoist Sect could be called the Zhangjiao.

Historically, only a few early Tianshis had held this honor. Since then, it hadn’t appeared again.

If the Human Dao Nation was truly established, the Emperor and the Zhangjiao would become one.

If they could truly rebuild the Celestial Palace, then the heavens and the earth would again be divided, and the Human Realm might change.

But as Shang Nan said, that was still far away.

For now, focus was needed.

Penglai was the beginning of everything.

Whether their plan succeeded would depend on the Human Realm.

If the Tianshi Mansion’s Three Treasures and the Universal Law Altar were truly here in the Tang Realm, then their Ming Realm Dao Nation would have to consider this place...

Shang Nan and Xue Xingzi were all politeness in front of Fu Dongsen, but privately, they began probing for more details about the Tang Realm.

---

Back in the Ye Clan of Cangzhou, the mood was heavy.

Though the Tang imperial court gave Ye Morong all the posthumous honors he deserved, his death devastated the Ye Clan.

Not only did they lose an Eighth Heaven powerhouse, but it could also cost them control over a Shence Army unit.

The details of the Earth Sea battle had returned.

Ye Morong’s death was largely due to him killing Li Yongzong, the Po Li Clan's young patriarch.

Li Yongzong’s father, Li Yan, was enraged.

Ye Wei, currently handling clan affairs, had a pounding headache.

His uncle’s archery was indeed unmatched, but why go to such lengths for the Tang Dynasty?

Worse yet, the scene was witnessed not just by Shangguan Yunbo and others, but also by Ye Clan members who entered the Earth Sea with Ye Morong.

That azure light arrow, that immense righteous aura, that long-range divine strike—no one else but Ye Morong could’ve done it.

The arcane patterns of that righteous aura matched his style.

Ye Wei could only accept the consequences and immediately reported to Ye Moquan, the reclusive elder in Youzhou.

Upon receiving the news and confirming the details, Ye Moquan’s reaction was intense:

Key members of the Ye Clan were to retreat, minimize travel, and summon reinforcements from the Lin Clan in Youzhou and the Ye Clan in Qingzhou.

Ye Wei quickly realized something else—there might be further danger.

Though Yang Yuqi’s ceremonial items had been destroyed, it was rumored that a few surviving pieces had fallen into Li Yan’s hands.

With the Po Li Clan’s foundation destroyed, they were cornered in the Earth Sea. But the Nine Li sorcerers, led by Li Yan, might use those items to infiltrate the Human Realm for revenge.

The Ye Clan of Cangzhou was likely a primary target.

Perhaps even the first target.

Ye Wei immediately mobilized.

Ye Moquan himself, who had been in seclusion for years, finally prepared to leave Youzhou for Cangzhou.

But...

“Elder Ye?” A servant looked at the unmoving Ye Moquan, surprised.

Ye Moquan stood still, staring out the window, eyes unfocused.

What was I planning to do just now?

Why did I summon this servant again?

“It’s fine. You may go,” the old man said calmly, waving his hand.

Later, he sat alone, trying to recall something.

What was it...?

After a long while, a spark of memory lit in his mind. But before he could act, he was interrupted by an urgent message.

The old man frowned.

But the contents of the message left him stunned:

The Ye Clan’s ancestral grounds in Cangzhou had been attacked.

Six clan members were dead.

Among them were his eldest son and legitimate grandson—Ye Feishan.

Ye Moquan stared blankly.

At last, he remembered what he had forgotten.

But he had delayed too long.

Now, it was too late...