Seeking Fortune and Avoiding Misfortune: Starting from the Celestial Master’s Mansion
Chapter 351: The huge problem created by Master Lei Tianshi

After listening to Fang Hezhou, Chu Lin silently nodded.

Fang Hezhou then turned his head toward Chu Fu, who was standing respectfully behind Chu Lin. “In Qingzhou, Jifeng is stationed in the northwest. The message from him should also be reported to His Highness the Crown Prince. We'll send this report as well—combine the two.”

Chu Fu hadn’t seen the exact contents of Fang Zhu’s report, but just from catching bits of the conversation between his father Chu Lin and Fang Hezhou, his heart was already shaken.

He quickly composed himself, respectfully accepted the letter, and took his leave.

Chu Lin then looked toward Fang Hezhou. “What about Elder Guo?”

Fang Hezhou slowly nodded. “I’ll invite him to the mansion for a talk.”

He wrote a letter and ordered someone to send it to the residence of Guo Yuan, the Right Chancellor of the Ministry of State Affairs.

Guo Yuan had once married into the Xiao Clan from Longxi and was cultivated by the family. He entered the capital as their representative in court, and eventually rose to become the Right Chancellor—now second in rank only to Fang Hezhou among the Tang court ministers.

After the Xiao Clan of Longxi suffered a major calamity and siblings Xiao Hang and Xiao Xueting took charge, Guo Yuan gradually distanced himself from them. The Xiao Clan’s influence on him had waned.

Meanwhile, he had also become in-laws with the Lin Clan of Youzhou.

In recent years, as the Empress established the Political Affairs Hall under the Chancellery, power from the Secretariat and Ministry of State Affairs had steadily eroded. Besides Fang Hezhou, the Chief Chancellor, Guo Yuan as Vice Chancellor was also affected.

Still, on the surface, he remained calm and composed—just like Fang Hezhou.

The two hadn’t interacted much in the past and were often at odds.

But the current situation in the northwest was far-reaching, with major implications.

Fang Hezhou had the backing of the three major clans from Qingzhou, Suzhou, and Jingxiang. Guo Yuan had the support of the clans from Youzhou and Cangzhou.

If the Tang Dynasty’s two top ministers were to exchange information, the major aristocratic families behind them would need to do the same.

---

Eastern Palace.

When Chu Fu arrived, sure enough, he saw Ye Song from the Qingzhou Ye Clan also requesting an audience with the Crown Prince.

Both men looked grave. In each other’s eyes, they saw unease and doubt.

They exchanged glances, nodded silently, and entered to meet Crown Prince Zhang Hui.

After being announced, they stepped inside to find His Highness already reading another memorial.

He looked up, expression calm, and gestured for them to sit. “The northwest war?”

Chu Fu and Ye Song presented their reports. “Yes, Your Highness. Please have a look.”

Zhang Hui took the documents and reviewed them one by one. Then he asked, “What do you two think?”

Ye Song said, “It’s beyond expectations. Even if this Tianshi Lei created the Divine Court Manifestation out of the External Aspect, it shouldn’t be possible to trap four experts simultaneously, right?”

A cultivator from the Talismanic Branch who had cultivated their Divine Court Universe could indeed trap multiple opponents for a short period, potentially giving them no escape.

But the issue was that people like Mihan from the Lone Eagle Khanate were also Eighth Heaven Realm experts.

Trapping all of them inside one Divine Court Universe should mean they’d be able to break out together quite easily.

Unless it was something like when Tang Xiaotang battled at Mount Longhu and her Pure Yang Domain held Chiye Butterfly King, Rong Guangchen, and Wei Qiyue all at once—with Lei Jun and Yuan Mobai there to help.

“Lei Tianshi didn’t release his Divine Court Universe in this battle.”

Zhang Hui shook his head and lifted the report in his hand slightly. “He basically relied purely on his physical body and life-bound power to suppress and kill three foreign martial arts experts and one Daoist alchemist.”

Hearing this, both Ye Song and Chu Fu were visibly shocked again.

Zhang Hui added, “He used the Tianshi Seal and Robe, but didn’t wield the Tianshi Sword.”

Chu Fu took a deep breath.

Ye Song was stunned for a long moment, and nearly blurted out a disrespectful “Impossible!” before catching himself.

He moved his lips, and after a while finally said, “Lei… Xuanchild has already reached the Ninth Heaven and attained Great Ascension?”

Zhang Hui replied, “To be honest, that was my first thought too. But gathering all available intel, it seems Lei Tianshi hasn’t yet broken through to the Ninth Heaven Great Ascension Realm.”

Chu Fu exhaled deeply. “Using the Tianshi Seal and Robe to beat four opponents isn't surprising. But not using the Tianshi Sword or releasing his Divine Court Universe, and still defeating four Eighth Heaven experts—what made those foreign warriors choose to fight to the death instead of retreat?”

Zhang Hui said, “It wasn’t that they wanted to fight to the death. They were caught off guard and couldn’t escape in time.”

Ye Song calmed his thoughts and said seriously, “This new Tianshi studied under Daoist Master Yuli Zi. He’s known for excelling in physical cultivation and life-bound power, and also cultivated the Four Great Manifestations while still in the Eighth Heaven. Plus, he’s proficient in Mount Longhu’s Dragon-Tiger Combined Strike—his strength is unquestionable. But if those warriors had scattered and fled, could he still have taken them all down?”

Zhang Hui said, “At the very least, his movement techniques are no worse than martial artists at the same level. With that foundation, even without the Tianshi Sword, his combat ability remains formidable. In close quarters, he caught them off guard and inflicted heavy damage immediately—leaving no room for escape.”

Chu Fu and Ye Song nodded thoughtfully.

They were familiar with martial artists.

At peak health, their speed and resilience were top-notch. But once injured—especially with heavy bleeding—their toughness and mobility would take a huge hit.

It made sense. Mihan and the others likely got caught in an "information gap."

…When had they ever seen a Talismanic Daoist cultivator with this kind of terrifying physical strength and speed?

Honestly, neither Chu Fu nor Ye Song had seen it either.

Facing an outlier like Lei Jun, being wounded so quickly messed with their movement abilities. At that point, trying to flee was already too late.

They might have been better off facing a known Ninth Heaven expert—they’d at least react properly and run instantly.

“Still, if Xuanchild really was Ninth Heaven, he’d have entered the Great Ascension Domain,” Ye Song said with a sigh.

Chu Fu glanced down at the report handed to him by Zhang Hui and murmured as he read, “In most cases, if an Eighth Heaven expert—especially one at peak level—goes all out to escape, they could break free from a Daoist Great Ascension Domain. But…”

Ye Song continued, “But if Xuanchild truly reached Ninth Heaven, then all this makes sense.”

For someone already so powerful at Eighth Heaven...

“If he focused on life-bound physical cultivation and could rival or surpass martial artists of the same level, that alone makes him an anomaly. It makes you wonder if he, like his master, comes from some unique background.”

Chu Fu set down the report. “But for him to be this strong physically, and still able to cultivate Heavenly Thunder and Earth Fire… how did he manage that?”

“I’m just as curious,” Zhang Hui finally said. “But there’s no doubt he has the strength. Just an innate genius, hiding his true capabilities.”

Chu Fu and Ye Song fell silent.

If it were just one incident, it could’ve been a faulty report—or a lie.

But combined with everything Lei Jun had accomplished in the past, it was almost certain he was truly capable of this.

“Letting those foreigners test his strength first isn’t a bad thing,” Ye Song said.

Chu Fu mused for a while, then sighed. “Even knowing his methods in advance, he’s still difficult to counter…”

Ye Song nodded slightly and looked at Zhang Hui.

The Crown Prince picked up the report again and continued reading carefully.

---

Border of Cangzhou and Qingzhou.

In a modest mountain pavilion, two men stood side by side, gazing into the distance.

“How’s your health these days, elder brother?” asked Ye Yan, head of the Ye Clan in Qingzhou.

Beside him stood Ye Moquan of the Cangzhou Ye Clan.

After the surprise attack on their ancestral grounds by Nine Li warriors, it became known that Ye Moquan hadn’t fully recovered from his injuries at the Battle of Jinzhou.

Ye Moquan didn’t deny it but preferred not to talk much. “Better than before. I appreciate your concern. At my age, I can't pretend to be young anymore.”

Ye Yan said, “The world is ever-changing. Fortune and misfortune come hand in hand. Don’t stress, brother.”

Ye Moquan smiled. “It’s truly a young person’s world now. The swift defeat of the Lone Eagle Khanate’s second invasion proves that.”

Ye Yan nodded lightly.

Just as Fang Hezhou reached out to Guo Yuan and was quickly met with a response, the heads of the Cangzhou and Qingzhou Ye Clans also finally met again after receiving the detailed reports from the northwest.

“Xuanchild Lei Chongyun… he truly lives up to the name. Deeply hidden and suddenly erupting like thunder across the heavens.”

Ye Yan admitted he had been as shocked as Ye Cheng and Ye Song when he first read the reports.

Tang Xiaotang’s slaying of the Ninth Heaven demon Changtian Azure Wolf was extraordinary—but within expectations.

If Lei Jun had simply fended off Mihan and the others alone, even defeating or killing one or two, that would be acceptable.

But this? This was astonishing beyond belief.

“Because of Xu Yuanzhen, I probably underestimated how important Lei Chongyun was in the incident where Huang Xuanpu fell,” Ye Yan said.

Ye Moquan nodded slightly. “Just from this one fight, defeating four enemies, he’s surpassed Li Yang, Li Bo, and Li Qingfeng. And with his rapid advancement, he’ll soon surpass Li Zhiyuan too.”

He turned to Ye Yan. “Back when Tianli’s pseudo-righteous faction invaded the Eastern Sea, wasn’t there a ritual that trapped Lei Chongyun for quite a while?”

Ye Yan said, “Yes, that happened. In recent years, Qingzhou has often studied it with Suzhou and Jingxiang.”

As Lei Jun’s cultivation and mystical abilities grew, no one expected that same ritual to trap him again.

Still, the Confucian masters in these regions were working to improve the rite, hoping it could one day be used against the ever-stronger Tianshi.

There was progress—but until it was tested, no one dared to claim it would work.

“If possible, I and Yujing would also like to offer our support,” said Ye Moquan.

Ye Yan replied, “Your support is most welcome.”

Despite clashing interests and irreconcilable differences in many areas, on this front, the major clans were united.

Just like when the so-called “barbaric” martial arts first emerged—they had all treated it as a common enemy.

If they hadn’t dealt with it quickly, the Lone Eagle Khanate might have successfully invaded the Tang territories, and people like Ye Cheng and Fang Zhu would have had no choice but to retreat.

Now, the same challenge had returned.

“Even though we’ve made some progress, that Daoist Xuanchild doesn’t seem like someone who ever stops moving forward,” Ye Yan said solemnly.

On the contrary—his pace was so fast that even Ye Yan, a Ninth Heaven Confucian Grand Scholar, could feel the footsteps growing louder behind him.

“Paddling against the current—if we don’t move, we fall behind. And now, the situation is like a dull knife cutting flesh, a slow and painful burn.”

Ye Moquan said slowly, “We’ve been playing it safe for years, waiting for a major upheaval. But time’s running out. Space is narrowing. If things don’t change soon, we won’t be able to wait any longer.”

Ye Yan turned south, gazing toward Jiangnan.

They had waited for years and made many preparations.

But along came Tang Xiaotang breaking through to the Ninth Heaven after Xu Yuanzhen—and then the rise of Lei Jun.

There was no more time.

If Lei Jun also reached Ninth Heaven, then the footsteps behind them would be even faster.

This Tianshi wasn’t just a problem—he was the problem.

Together with Xu Yuanzhen and Tang Xiaotang, this “problem” had only grown harder.

No one family or person could solve it alone. Only a united front would do.

The tides of the world had to change.

But now, with threats like the Nine Li, the Lone Eagle foreigners, Tianli’s false doctrine, and the Yellow Springs cultists all being suppressed...

Where should their next move be?

Ye Yan seemed to ponder this, his gaze shifting westward.

Ye Moquan followed his gaze, without speaking, making the same movement.

Zhongnan Mountain, Pure Yang Palace.

Lei Jun was temporarily residing here.

With the situation in the northwest nearing its conclusion and other parties handling the cleanup, Lei Tianshi wasn’t directly involved. He remained stationed here to ensure stability.

Thus, apart from maintaining communication with his sect, the Tianshi Mansion of Mount Longhu, he devoted himself to quiet cultivation.

He was currently refining a newly acquired treasure—the One-Thought Linglong Stone.

The stone had seven natural apertures, like the legendary heart of purest wisdom.

Within the seven orifices, a soft stream of glowing light flowed in cycles—an unbroken, pure, and singular current.

Lei Jun carefully merged the stone’s spiritual energy with his own mana.

A brilliant seven-colored stream of light entered his Divine Court Universe, endlessly circulating within.

Its purity made it difficult for foreign forces to refine. But once the enormous Taiji Diagram within Lei Jun’s Divine Court began to turn, the rainbow stream was drawn in and slowly transformed into black and white—yin and yang.

The spiritual energy remained vibrant but now fully merged with Lei Jun’s power.

After some more refining, he achieved complete integration.

With a shift of thought, Lei Jun found his divine abilities flowed even more smoothly and swiftly than before.

He then entered the True-One Altar Grotto-Heaven, derived from the Tianshi Seal.

Within his personal domain, free from outside interference, the Heavenly Thunder Talismanic Canon and Five Thunders of Xuanxiao materialized above him.

Purple Yang Thunder and Black Yin Thunder interwove once again, exploding in a radiant burst of dazzling brilliance.

This light passed through a red crystal embedded in the Youluo Rainbow Crystal, condensing into a piercing crimson beam that slashed through the air.

Lei Jun’s own Taiji Diagram, formed from his mana, intercepted the blast to prevent damage to the grotto. Still, the beam’s power was so fierce that the diagram began to scorch and tear.

The True-One Altar responded immediately, its surface flickering with purple, gold, and green radiance.

At Lei Jun’s thought, the crimson beam vanished.

Then followed beams of orange, yellow, and green light—the full spectrum of seven-colored beams fired one after another, seeming to pierce through the void.

Their speed was astonishing, and their power formidable.

That alone wasn’t new.

What had changed was the drastically reduced charging time before the beam was unleashed.

“With this, it’s finally practical in fast-paced combat instead of being just a sniper technique with a long setup,” Lei Jun said with satisfaction.

The One-Thought Linglong Stone was indeed the treasure he needed.

It enhanced his other abilities too, but its biggest impact was on this particular high-powered spell he had been developing.

At last, the spell had matured—from concept to completion, it was now ready for real use.

Lei Jun named it: Yin-Yang Divine Xuan Radiant Beam.

Following his self-created Magnetic Sword, Yin Thunder Dragon, and Yang Fire Tiger, this was yet another offensive technique of his own invention.

Of course, the spell was still in its early stages. There remained much room for improvement—its mana consumption, for example, was huge.

Still, Lei Jun planned to keep refining and enhancing it, as he had with all his divine techniques.

“All right, next step...”

He opened his palm, and seven Youluo Rainbow Crystals, each a different color, rose into the air.

Under Lei Jun’s power and will, they slowly dissolved into streaks of rainbow light and merged into his brow.

He smiled and closed his eyes.

From his forehead, a glow appeared—a third eye began to take shape.

Light flowed within that eye, sometimes swirling into rainbow colors, sometimes condensing into single hues—each color flickering in sequence.

Finally, the light faded as if the eye had closed.

There was nothing unusual on the surface now, but when Lei Jun opened his real eyes again, his gaze was calm and unfathomably deep.

“Oh? Little Senior Sister is back?” he murmured, sensing something, and stepped out of the True-One Altar Grotto-Heaven.

Tang Xiaotang had returned to Pure Yang Palace with Shangguan Yunbo.

“That bastard got away.” The former Tianshi, Tang Zhenren, looked displeased.

She had just gotten the hang of her new spell, and chasing the Changtian Azure Wolf had been exhilarating.

But the joy didn’t last. On this chase after Bomu Ge, an expert of the Lone Eagle Khanate, she hit a wall and lost the trail again.

“Maybe someone helped him, shielding his escape,” Shangguan Yunbo frowned.

Lei Jun first turned to Tang Xiaotang. “Every opponent has their own quirks. It takes time and experience to expand your techniques beyond a single trick.”

Then he looked to Shangguan Yunbo. “This could lead to trouble. I believe it warrants a thorough investigation.”

Shangguan Yunbo replied, “Rest assured, Tianshi. I’ve already reported to His Majesty. We’ll investigate thoroughly.”

He would remain in the Guanzhong region, not just to intimidate any petty villains but also to track down clues and eliminate the remaining foreign enemies.

On another note...

“Tianshi Lei, Zhenren Tang, if you two are free, His Majesty requests your presence in the Imperial Capital.”

Shangguan Yunbo said, “His decree has gone out to the leaders of all major sacred lands, including the Vajra Division of Mount Sumeru, Xuanyan Temple, Bodhi Monastery, and Tianlong Monastery. Pure Yang Palace and the Shushan Sect have also received the summons.”

Tang Xiaotang raised an eyebrow. “All of them at once?”

Lei Jun said calmly, “It’s time to settle the matter of the National Preceptor.”