Seeking Fortune and Avoiding Misfortune: Starting from the Celestial Master’s Mansion
Chapter 397: The Abandoned Disciple of Longhu Mountain

Shen Qubing and Jin Daowu arrived at the scene.
Aside from Tang Xiaotang, there were other Daoist cultivators present. Leading them was a young Daoist in a purple robe—Lin Shan, a senior elder of the Tianshi Mansion. Lin Shan stood behind Tang Xiaotang with several disciples of the Tianshi Mansion, awaiting instructions. Nearby were Qin Baisheng and other disciples of Shushan Sect.

Qin Baisheng and company, together with Nie Fang from Xuanji Temple, were busily setting up numerous artifacts around the warped void.
These artifacts were uniform in design and nearly identical in appearance: small-scale pill furnaces. But rather than containing alchemical ingredients, the moment these furnaces came into contact with the black mist seeping from the cracks in the Earth Sea, their internal flames automatically ignited.

Jin Daowu eyed the array of furnaces curiously. “General, what are those…?”
Shen Qubing, also watching with interest, replied, “Word is, this was Tianshi Lei’s idea. The Tianshi Mansion, Shushan Sect, and Xuanji Temple collaborated under his guidance to mass-produce these artifacts specifically designed to counter the Earth Sea's black mist miasma.”
He gestured at the continuing work. “They're still forging more of them. Tianshi Lei calls these ‘components’. The components are assembled here in Guizang into new pill furnaces and then transported into the Earth Sea. I’d only heard about it before—this is my first time seeing it in action.”

Upon hearing this, Jin Daowu observed the furnaces more closely and realized they weren't forged in a single piece.
Each furnace was made up of about seven or eight small components, transported in large quantities and carefully assembled by the disciples under Lin Shan, Nie Fang, and Qin Baisheng’s command.

From the perspective of upper-tier cultivators, each individual furnace’s effectiveness was limited.
Their purpose was singular—targeting the black mist. Yet in large numbers, these seemingly simple furnaces formed a formidable formation. When acting in unison, their collective effect was more than the sum of their parts, producing a stunning visual and spiritual impact.

In this part of Guizang, the void had already twisted and revealed a rift to the Earth Sea.
But rather than spreading, the black mist was gradually neutralized by the vast number of pill furnaces, leaving behind only a faint, blood-red crack and barely any mist.

Though a martial cultivator, Jin Daowu had the vision of a peak Upper Heaven Realm expert.
What truly caught his attention was the fact that this vast network of furnaces was operated not by high-level cultivators, but by Middle or even Lower Heaven Realm disciples from various Daoist sects. Lin Shan and the others merely coordinated and monitored from a distance.

In other words, lower-realm cultivators, through sheer numbers and preparation, were accomplishing tasks traditionally reserved for higher-realm experts.
As a military man, Jin Daowu was highly attuned to this shift in paradigm.

Granted, this wasn’t the same as head-on combat—these pill-furnace artifacts weren’t designed to kill.
But what about in the future?

The more Jin Daowu thought about it, the more disturbed he became.
From his observations, the main limiting factor seemed to be raw materials. If those were plentiful, the entire operation could scale up even further.

The old saying goes: with enough heavenly treasures, even a pig could ascend.
Though exaggerated, it hinted at a truth—attaining the highest realm still depended on individual talent. But this Daoist artifact strategy meant that massive investment of resources would indeed yield visible returns.

And if the production and operational threshold for these artifacts continued to drop, the implications for a vast populace were potentially revolutionary…
Even a brief mental sketch left Jin Daowu dazed.

He shook his head and focused once more on the Tianshi Mansion cultivators, particularly recalling the new Tianshi—Lei Jun.
Why had Tianshi Lei come up with such an approach?

From what Jin Daowu had heard—though never officially confirmed—Lei Jun had likely enhanced his innate talent through postnatal modification.
Regardless, he was unquestionably one of the Tang Dynasty’s top Daoist prodigies. Yet, he had such radical ideas…

In the distance within Guizang, Zhang Hui and Meng Shaojie were also watching Tang Xiaotang’s group.
“Qingyan, I’m telling you—when you return to the Tang Dynasty, you must revisit the Tianshi Mansion, Xuanji Temple, and Shushan Sect,” Zhang Hui said enthusiastically as he gestured. “It’s nothing like when you traveled before—it’s changing by the day!”

Meng Shaojie nodded repeatedly. “I’ve been thinking the same thing.”
Zhang Hui added, “I wonder what things will look like a few years from now.”

Meng Shaojie glanced toward the distance. “Aren’t you going to greet National Preceptor Tang?”
“She knows I’m here,” Zhang Hui replied. “But I doubt we’ll have time to meet.”

Even as he spoke, a blinding column of golden light surged into the sky.
Pure yang true fire blazed fiercely around Tang Xiaotang, who had begun expanding the Earth Sea rift even further. The twisted void shimmered with an ineffable beauty. A new portal connecting Guizang and the Earth Sea emerged.

Shen Qubing gave the command, and Jin Daowu and the other Tang troops snapped to attention, focusing on the task at hand.
Following Tang Xiaotang, Shen Qubing’s group charged into the Earth Sea.

Lin Shan nodded toward Nie Fang and Qin Baisheng. “I’ll leave things here in your capable hands.”
Both replied in unison, “Rest assured, Daoist Brother.”

Lin Shan then led his team to follow Tang Xiaotang and Shen Qubing through the portal.
Upon entering the Earth Sea, the surrounding black mist surged violently. Yet Lin Shan’s group remained calm as they began deploying the pill furnaces in pre-determined positions across a wide area.

As the array of artifacts expanded, the surrounding black mist noticeably thinned.
“All proceeding as the Sect Master predicted,” Lin Shan observed, nodding with satisfaction. He then ordered his disciples to inform Nie Fang, Qin Baisheng, and the sects back in the Tang Dynasty that the next phase could now commence.

Meanwhile, Tang Xiaotang had already charged deep into the Earth Sea.
Compared to before, the environment here was even more desolate and perilous.

Five years ago, the Nine Li tribes had used a massive Earth Sea tide to force Tang Xiaotang and other Tang cultivators out.
This event had also devastated the Nine Li themselves, throwing the entire Earth Sea into chaos. Even now, its effects had not fully subsided. The seven Abyssal Trenches of the Earth Sea continued to roil and churn.

Yet Tang Xiaotang remained unfazed.
Golden flames blazed through the perpetual darkness, as if a sun had appeared in this sunless world. Her eyes gleamed with a serene clarity. Over her head, a pair of illusory divine eyes hovered—mirrors reflecting all directions.

With the aid of Heavenwatcher’s Insight, Tang Xiaotang moved with clear purpose.
Her targets were the two key Nine Li leaders who had joined forces five years ago—Li Yuanheng of the Greedy Li tribe and Li Zhongding of the Civil Li.

And it seemed luck was on her side.
The two she sought were currently in the same area. Li Zhongding, high priest of the Goddance Lineage, had activated a powerful sacrificial array, but it fluctuated wildly and lacked stability.

Apart from Li Yuanheng and Li Zhongding, there were other Nine Li high priests present.
Tang Xiaotang hadn’t paid them much attention—until she got close.

Upon nearing, she let out a surprised grunt.
The one confronting Li Yuanheng wasn’t his old rival Li Zhongding, but rather Li Bin of the Giant Li tribe.

Li Zhongding had activated the Goddance array, but stood motionless, dull and lifeless—far from his former self.
Tang Xiaotang’s keen gaze quickly caught on to several sinister energies emanating from him.

“Parasite Gu... Soul-stealing incantations… What a mess.”
She chuckled with disinterest. “Well, at least the gang’s all here!”

Golden flames exploded around her.
A blazing sun soared into the sky, transforming into a boundless golden sea of pure yang thunderfire. It blanketed the heavens, swallowing all in its light.

---

Meanwhile, in the Tianshi Mansion back in the Tang Dynasty...

Tianshi Lei Jun was receiving a guest.

“Daoist Wen, thank you for your efforts.”
He addressed the young man before him, dressed in traditional southern attire—the current Holy Lord of Gepo Mountain, Wen Xi of the Goddance Lineage in Southern Wilderness.

“Tianshi flatters me,” Wen Xi replied politely. “I’m honored to help, and I personally welcome this outcome.”
Lei Jun nodded. “Then I’ll ask Daoist Wen to help coordinate with our new guest. My doors are open at any time.”

“Please excuse me a moment.”
Wen Xi took his leave to make arrangements.

Lei Jun calmly waited.
Under the glow of the Jade Purity Celestial Mirror, all of Mount Longhu and its surroundings were visible to him. He had already sensed another presence quietly waiting beyond the gate.

Once contacted by Wen Xi, the guest made his way to the mansion with utmost discretion.
He finally entered and greeted Lei Jun formally.

It was Li Tianqing, now a guest elder of the Blood River Sect—and formerly Wen Xi’s senior brother from Gepo Mountain.
“Tianshi Lei, greetings from Li Tianqing of the Blood River Sect,” the guest said calmly.

Lei Jun returned the courtesy. “You’re too kind, Daoist Li.”
Wen Xi, watching from the side, couldn’t help feeling conflicted.

Li Tianqing remained composed.
Lei Jun informed him, “My Senior Sister Tang Xiaotang has already opened a rift to the Earth Sea in Guizang. A major battle is currently underway.”

Li Tianqing replied solemnly, “I plan to open another portal from the Southern Wilderness side of the Tang Dynasty to assist the National Preceptor from within.”
Now that the Earth Sea’s closure had been pierced, its many portals—once sealed—could again be located and activated.

Since Tang Dynasty forces had long prepared in the Southern Wilderness, it would now be much easier to reopen their own Earth Sea access.
Though this would reconnect the Tang Dynasty and the Earth Sea, all necessary precautions were already in place.

With Li Tianqing entering from the opposite side, he and Tang Xiaotang could execute a pincer attack—an ideal setup to weaken the Nine Li’s ancestral defenses.

Lei Jun didn’t object—his style had always been to achieve the most with the least effort.
Though Xing Feng hadn’t shown himself, Li Tianqing’s appearance indicated that the Blood River Sect was preparing to return to the human realm.

Years under Xing Feng’s control had mellowed the sect’s violent tendencies, but old grudges still made them wary and reserved.
Still, this re-opening of the Earth Sea presented a new opportunity.

Lei Jun asked casually, “Daoist Li, you were born of the Lu Li Tribe, correct?”
Wen Xi tensed slightly.

But Li Tianqing answered with calm candor. “As far as I know, yes. But I know very little about the details.”
He had ended up in the human world by chance, abandoned as an infant. If not for that, his origins would have long been exposed.

And from what both Lei Jun and Li Tianqing understood, there was no grand “prince returns” revenge story here.
He had been an ordinary child from an ordinary background. Just one who had slipped through the cracks.

If anything could be called unique…

“The Nine Li people, having lived without sunlight for generations, cannot easily endure human light or spiritual energy,” Lei Jun noted.
“But you, Daoist Li, seem to be an exception. Perhaps this is part of your destined role to play in the future.”

Li Tianqing replied with serene honesty.
“To be frank, I grew up in the human world. Everyone I knew and cared about was human. Since learning my parents passed long ago, the Nine Li feel like strangers.”

“However, the Lu Li tribe had nothing to do with the fall of Gepo Mountain and the death of Elder Sang Lu back then,” said Li Tianqing, “so I hold no grudge. This time I’m entering Dehai mainly to track down the Po Li and Bi Li clans.”

The Po Li Clan’s patriarch, Li Yan, had already been slain by Tang Xiaotang herself.

The Bi Li Clan’s patriarch, Li De, was still alive.

Many among the Po Li and Bi Li had been involved when the Tang Mortal Realm first connected with Dehai, and several of them were still alive today.

“The current situation in Dehai has shifted significantly,” said Lei Jun.

Li Tianqing and Wen Xi turned to look at him.

Lei Jun continued, “The Wen Li Clan’s patriarch, Li Zhongding, is dead.”

Li Tianqing and Wen Xi listened silently, not interrupting.

From Lei Jun’s tone, it seemed Li Zhongding’s death wasn’t at the hands of Tang Xiaotang, Shen Qubing, or any other human cultivator.

“While we can’t pinpoint the exact time of death, it’s likely that Li Zhongding perished long ago,” Lei Jun said evenly. “If I had to guess, it might’ve been even before his last ambush against Li Yuanheng.”

Li Tianqing’s eyes flashed. “His body and soul... were refined and taken over by a Ghost Dao cultivator?”

Wen Xi quickly ran through his memories.

To his knowledge, among the Jiuli in Dehai, there was only one Ghost Dao expert at the Ninth Heaven level—Li Xun, the patriarch of the Fu Li Clan.

Li Xun and his clan were known allies of Li Yuanheng's Greedy Li faction.

So... could it be that Li Xun had developed ambitions and secretly plotted against Li Yuanheng using Li Zhongding?

But that raised a problem.

“Li Yuanheng may follow the Gu path, but he’s still a Peak Ninth Heaven Jiuli Grand Shaman. He’s certainly familiar with Ghost Dao techniques,” said Li Tianqing. “If Li Zhongding had been refined by Li Xun, I doubt Li Yuanheng would’ve missed the signs… Wait a moment—Roaches from Luo Abyss?”

Suddenly, a thought struck him. “Corpse Fleas? But Li Zhongding was no ordinary Ninth Heaven cultivator. An Eighth Heaven Corpse Flea couldn’t possibly control his body. So... a Ninth Heaven Corpse Flea King has emerged?”

Lei Jun nodded. “Back when the Jiuli and the monsters of Luo Abyss were at war in Dehai, things were chaotic on the battlefield, and even more underhanded in secret.”

When Lei Jun first heard this from Tang Xiaotang and Shen Qubing, even he was taken aback.

Both the shamans of Dehai and the monsters of Luo Abyss were indeed far more brutal and bizarre than human cultivators.

Corpse Fleas were monsters of Luo Abyss. They looked unimpressive, but could control corpses as their puppets.

During the last breach between Luo Abyss and the Tang Mortal Realm, some Corpse Fleas had entered the mortal world and were eliminated by Tang cultivators like Xiao Xueting.

But those were all lower-tier fleas.

No one expected that a powerful one had secretly snuck into Dehai during the chaos and had found a perfectly suitable corpse as a host—Li Zhongding, the former leader of the Wen Li Clan who once vied for dominance with Li Yuanheng.

“But if that’s the case, it would be hard to fool people who knew Li Zhongding,” Wen Xi murmured.

Li Tianqing agreed. “Someone from within the Jiuli must’ve helped the Corpse Flea King. Otherwise, it couldn’t have slipped into Dehai undetected or located Li Zhongding’s corpse so precisely…”

He mentally sifted through the known Jiuli experts.

“Li Bin, Patriarch of the Ju Li Clan,” Lei Jun revealed.

Li Tianqing recalled, “He’s a Ninth Heaven Grand Shaman skilled in Cursecraft, right?”

Lei Jun nodded slightly.

Wen Xi asked softly, “Could he be using headcraft to control the Corpse Flea King, so he could then manipulate Li Zhongding’s body through it?”

Lei Jun replied, “That’s probably what he intended. But the Corpse Flea King isn’t so easily controlled—it likely remains wary.

The situation shifted drastically over the past few years. While Dehai was closed to the outside, the Jiuli fought among themselves, and the Corpse Flea King lost control of its own fate. The battle over who would control Li Zhongding’s corpse—between Li Yuanheng of the Greedy Li and Li Bin of the Ju Li—intensified.”

Li Tianqing and Wen Xi both nodded in realization. “Li Yuanheng must’ve noticed something—no wonder he suddenly joined forces with ‘Li Zhongding’ and triggered a massive Dehai surge that expelled all human cultivators.”

That battle five years ago had been devastating.

The coalition of four clans led by Li Yuanheng was ambushed by five opposing Jiuli clans under Li Zhongding.

The timely arrival of human cultivators like Tang Xiaotang helped alleviate the pressure on Li Yuanheng’s side.

But shortly after, Li Yuanheng and “Li Zhongding” triggered the largest Dehai tide yet, forcing Tang Xiaotang and the other human cultivators out.

It wasn’t surprising that Li Yuanheng would betray his human allies—they’d always distrusted him.

But the timing caught everyone off guard, even Lei Jun.

Why betray them then? Had Li Yuanheng already crossed the threshold?

Now, in hindsight, it appeared he had uncovered the truth about the Corpse Flea King and “Li Zhongding.”

As a Peak Ninth Heaven Gu Master, even while injured, Li Yuanheng had plenty of sinister tricks.

Against the real Li Zhongding, he might’ve stood no chance.

But if it was just a corpse controlled by a monster, he might’ve seen an opening.

He wanted to claim both the body of his old rival and the Corpse Flea King.

Meanwhile, Li Bin had also been eyeing both targets.

In terms of cultivation, he was weaker than Li Yuanheng and couldn’t contend with the Corpse Flea King at first.

But once Li Yuanheng began his assault, Li Bin found his opportunity.

“Even injured, Li Yuanheng was still gaining the upper hand,” Lei Jun explained. “When Tang arrived, he was already close to victory.”

But her timing foiled his plan.

Tang Xiaotang, long obsessed with Dehai, finally got her moment.

She arrived just in time to ruin Li Yuanheng’s efforts to refine and subjugate the Corpse Flea King and Li Zhongding’s corpse.

But due to the damage already done, the Corpse Flea King was weakened—making things easier for Li Bin.

Latest news from Dehai suggested that Li Bin had gained the upper hand in the struggle over Li Zhongding’s remains.

“Tianshi, what of the other Jiuli clans?” Wen Xi asked softly, while Li Tianqing fell into thought.

Lei Jun replied, “Things are a mess right now. The Fu Li clan, led by Li Xun, is still supporting Li Yuanheng and the Greedy Li.

Meanwhile, the Lu Li have fallen out with Li Bin.”

The new Lu Li patriarch, Li Jin, had always admired Li Zhongding.

So when “Li Zhongding” resurfaced, Li Jin and the Lu Li quickly rallied behind him.

Who could’ve guessed things would end up this way?

“Thank you for informing us, Tianshi.”

Li Tianqing remained composed as he said, “With Dehai in such turmoil, I’ll follow through with the original plan—enter Dehai, assist Imperial Preceptor Tang, and play things by ear.”

Lei Jun: “Thank you, Daoist brother.”

Li Tianqing's open appearance in the Southern Wasteland attracted much attention.

But word of his previous visit to Mount Longhu—shared by Wen Xi—helped settle the nerves of the Witch Sect.

Led by Gepo Mountain, many Witch Sect cultivators gathered under Li Tianqing’s banner to reopen the portal between the Mortal Realm and Dehai.

Still, many remained uneasy—especially since Xing Feng, the actual Blood River Sect master, was still missing.

Fortunately, with disciples from the Tianshi Mansion, Shushan Sect, and Xuanji Monastery all heading to the Southern Wasteland with artifacts to suppress Dehai’s black mist, the Witch Sect members were able to put their worries aside for now.

Having the Tianshi Mansion’s backing meant more than anything else.

The portal reopened, and human cultivators led by Li Tianqing flooded into Dehai once more.

The Jiuli suffered another major blow.

From atop Mount Longhu, Lei Jun watched silently as batches of artifacts were produced and sent into Dehai.

The black miasma was temporarily suppressed, giving the cultivators room to operate.

More news followed.

After learning the truth about the Corpse Flea King and Li Zhongding, Tang Xiaotang no longer held much grudge.

In fact, now that both had been manhandled by Li Yuanheng and Li Bin, she found it mildly entertaining.

She set her sights on a new target: Li Yuanheng.

Having lost his chance to control the corpse and the monster, and still injured, Li Yuanheng could only flee when she came after him—even as a Peak Ninth Heaven Grand Shaman.

Back when Tang returned from Datong, she carried the Three Treasures of the Tianshi Mansion.

With her Heavenly Heart Talisman, she was generally safe.

The only issue was her reckless streak—she’d often rush into danger, eyes wide open.

So Lei Jun had instructed her to keep the treasures on her at all times.

Now in Dehai, Li Yuanheng was truly in trouble.

Had he been healthy and in control of the terrain, he might’ve stood a chance.

But now, even escaping was risky.

With all that had transpired, the Jiuli in Dehai were on the verge of total collapse.

Dehai was about to change hands.

Li Yuanheng, ruthless as ever, ordered the Greedy Li to retreat while plunging Dehai into deeper chaos.

Once, he had led four clans against the monsters of Luo Abyss.

Now, he personally opened a void portal connecting Dehai back to Luo Abyss.

Two realms of the Ten Earthly Domains were now linked again.

On another front, he had also prepared a backup plan.

He opened a secret portal from Dehai to another mortal world.

“The one with the Song Dynasty and the nomadic Khaganate?” asked Elder Shangguan Ning of the Tianshi Mansion, visibly surprised.

Lei Jun mused, “Unexpected, yes—but not without reason. That world has many shattered mountains and broken lands, full of Yuluo ravines and lightless regions.”

Shangguan Ning understood: “Such places let the Jiuli hide from the sun. They need darkness.”

Li Yuanheng made a clean exit with the Greedy Li.

But Dehai had become a leaky sieve.

Still, he shouldn’t celebrate too soon.

Tang Xiaotang chased him straight into the Khaganate’s world.

“This shift in events is a bit beyond expectations.”

Lei Jun told Shangguan Ning and Liu Xiao, “Tang went alone. If necessary, I’ll follow. In that case, I’ll need you elders to hold down the fort.”

Yuan Mobai was still in seclusion, but Wang Guiyuan was on the mountain.

And the Empress Zhang Wantong and Xiao Xueting remained in the Tang, so the Tianshi Mansion was stable for now.

Although Blood River’s Xing Feng remained missing, Lei Jun knew that the equally quiet Sun Li was still in the Tang.

Meanwhile in Dehai, Tang Xiaotang pursued Li Yuanheng across realms.

Li Tianqing fought fiercely with Li Bin over the Corpse Flea King.

Luo Abyss had reopened, and the situation in Dehai was more chaotic than ever.

Before Lei Jun set out, he organized reports from all sides.

One long-forgotten name suddenly appeared:

Chen Yi.

To the Tianshi Mansion of Mount Longhu, he was a banished disciple—expelled but never properly hunted down.

He had long disappeared, rarely making contact with other disciples.

Recently, news suggested he’d entered Luo Abyss.

This time, the Tang’s Divine Strategy Army spotted him emerging from Luo Abyss—only to enter Dehai for unknown reasons.

Given his identity, the soldiers reported it immediately, and the news was forwarded to the Tianshi Mansion.