Seeking Fortune and Avoiding Misfortune: Starting from the Celestial Master’s Mansion
Chapter 34: Advanced Foundation Building

Generally speaking, apart from the most elusive factor to quantify—opportunities and luck—a cultivator's achievements and rate of progress are determined by their bone structure, comprehension, and personal willpower.

It is often said that the human mind is difficult to fathom. Similarly, a person’s will is hard to measure accurately, especially given its variability over time. Therefore, most people tend to focus on evaluating bone structure and comprehension instead.

For the most part, both bone structure and comprehension are innate and rarely change after birth, nor can they be easily seized or altered. This fundamental truth prevents the world of cultivation from devolving into a society where everything is dictated solely by one’s lineage. It remains possible for children from humble backgrounds to achieve greatness. Without this, even infants still in the cradle—or worse, in the womb—might be targeted and exploited by the powerful families for transplantation or extraction.

However, having experienced the process of elevating his bone structure from Average Physique to Spirit Physique, Lei Jun firmly believes that with exceptional fortune, it is possible to defy destiny. He hoped for further opportunities to enhance both his bone structure and comprehension. Yet, he did not overly force the issue. Aside from grasping opportunities as they arose, he stayed focused on cultivating himself.

After bidding farewell to Tang Xiaotang, who was in particularly high spirits, Lei Jun returned to his secluded work with the Blue Stone Ink, continuously nurturing and strengthening his Dao Foundation and mana.

Since Senior Sister Xu Yuanzhen left the mountain, she had yet to return. Later, Little Senior Sister Tang Xiaotang also entered secluded cultivation. With fewer visitors dropping by to see him, Lei Jun didn’t mind.

Yuan Mobai occasionally came to Lei Jun’s private residence to teach, while Wang Guiyuan would visit and share updates about the outside world. Since Xu Yuanzhen’s earlier turmoil, the atmosphere in the Mansion had notably shifted. The once high-profile and even domineering attitude of the Li family disciples had been replaced by a more subdued approach. The high-ranking elders of the Li family had adopted a conciliatory and modest stance, aiming to ease the tensions provoked by individuals like Li Ming.

The treatment gap between Li family disciples and those from other surnames had narrowed slightly, with more non-Li disciples receiving attention and significant roles. During the last Initiation Ceremony, Lei Jun had been placed in "seclusion" by his master, Yuan Mobai, while several other non-Li disciples, including Chen Yi, Shangguan Hong, and Guo Yan, distinguished themselves. Among them, Chen Yi’s case was particularly noteworthy.

In the Cloud Sea Immortal Pool incident, Chen Yi had entered the Upper Immortal Pool but suffered injuries from its water instead of receiving the nourishment and baptism it usually provided. This even damaged his Pure Void Spirit Physique. Despite this loss, the treasure Blazing Cloud Lotus Seed he acquired from the pool couldn’t fully compensate for the damage. Yet, this incident led to Chen Yi being held up as a model by the Li family to reconcile with and win over non-Li disciples.

It was a textbook case of how blessings can come from misfortune. The Li family elders heavily invested in Chen Yi’s recovery, supplying him with copious amounts of spiritual medicine to repair his damaged Spirit Physique. Although this delayed his progression from the Early Foundation Stage to the Intermediate Foundation Stage, the continuous support enabled him to catch up quickly, achieving the same level as disciples like Li Ying and Shangguan Hong.

“I’ve heard that Senior Brother and Senior Sister Zhang Jingzhen have been mentoring Chen Yi quite a lot lately,” Wang Guiyuan commented during one of his visits to Lei Jun.

Lei Jun responded with a smirk: “Leaving others out of it, doesn’t Chen Yi’s own master, Elder Yao, mind nurturing someone else’s talent in his own backyard?”

Wang Guiyuan chuckled. “It seems Chen Yi is clever. Rumor has it that gifts from Senior Brother were directly handed to Elder Yao and Elder Hongyu in return.”

“And they, of course, generously gave them back to Chen Yi?” Lei Jun added.

Wang Guiyuan nodded. It seemed a meaningless exchange, but many cared about the process more than the actual items involved.

“Still, this Chen Yi lacks a bit of caution,” Wang Guiyuan remarked. “With Senior Brother and Elder Ziyang valuing him so highly as a representative of non-Li disciples, his habit of ingratiating himself with everyone might backfire in the long run.”

Recently, Chen Yi had been assigned to a new role within the Discipline Hall under the arrangements of the Young Tianshi and Elder Ziyang. The Discipline Hall, which handled regulations, investigations, and punishments, was an upgrade from the minor Discipline Hall of the Daoist Children’s Academy.

“If Chen Yi truly wields authority in the Discipline Hall, supported by influential figures, he’ll undoubtedly make many uneasy,” Wang Guiyuan remarked. “Back in the academy, he was already a prominent figure with unresolved conflicts.”

“It’s a position of power, but also one that attracts enemies,” Lei Jun observed. “It all depends on who supports him and whether he maintains his integrity.”

Reflecting briefly, Lei Jun felt that had he not been placed in seclusion by his master during the Initiation Ceremony, Chen Yi’s current position might have been his—or at least partly shared. The seemingly sweet rewards of power often concealed hidden dangers.

Wang Guiyuan sighed. “You’re much more grounded, Lei Jun.”

Lei Jun chuckled. “Perhaps because I’m a few years older.”

“You’re mocking me for being old,” Wang Guiyuan teased before turning serious. “Still, Senior Brother, Elder Ziyang, and even Elder Yao have subtly inquired about you. They’re clearly considering ways to make amends and win over disciples like you.”

Later, Yuan Mobai confirmed this to Lei Jun. “The initial goal has been achieved. Now, don’t overextend. Once you reach the High Foundation Stage, you can move back to your own residence.”

Lei Jun nodded. “I’ll follow your arrangements, Master.”

This didn’t mean Lei Jun would lose access to the Blue Stone Ink, but the method of delivery would change. Raw stones from the Blue Stone Ink Mine would either be delivered to his residence regularly or collected by Lei Jun himself.

For now, still at the Intermediate Foundation Stage, Lei Jun remained in the vicinity of the mine. Seasons passed quickly in the mountains, and before long, four years had elapsed since Lei Jun first arrived at Mount Longhu. Two years had passed since he formally entered the Mansion during the Initiation Ceremony.

One day, while meditating in the Blue Stone Ink Mine, Lei Jun inspected his Dao Foundation internally. Within the Eight Gates of the City Walls, six additional curtains had appeared in the central altar of his foundation, divided symmetrically.

The presence of these Six Curtains signified Lei Jun’s successful advancement to the High Foundation Stage! After stabilizing his foundation, he prepared a Ritual Altar, laid out an incense table, and attempted to craft talismans.

At the Intermediate Foundation Stage, Lei Jun’s success rates for talisman crafting were impressive, even without using his Vermilion-Tipped Brush: 80% for life-bound talismans and 70% for other talismans. With the brush, success rates reached a perfect 100%.

Now, at the High Foundation Stage, his base success rates increased to 90% and 80% respectively without the brush, and remained a flawless 100% across the board when using it. Additionally, the crafting speed of his life-bound talismans improved, conserving both time and mana.