Seeking Fortune and Avoiding Misfortune: Starting from the Celestial Master’s Mansion
Chapter 447: Wang Guiyuan's Future

Shattered fragments of the skull drifted through the turbulent skies of Luoyuan, marking the complete annihilation of the once-dominant Lord of Youluo. His existence had now become a part of history.

Lei Jun retracted his Grand Dao Manifestation. The remaining specters, previously suppressed by his combined force with Longhu, dissipated without further intervention. Their expressions bore no trace of pain or struggle; instead, a sense of relief seemed to emanate from them.

From the surrounding abyssal seas, specters of lesser cultivation began to emerge and vanish in succession. These were remnants of the Lord of Youluo's influence. With his demise, they too faded into the annals of history.

For practitioners of the Wu sect's ghost path or other soul-focused Daoist traditions, collecting these residual specters would be immensely beneficial. However, to Lei Jun, they held no significance.

He calmly observed the dispersing souls of both humans and beasts, silently reciting the Daoist Rebirth Sutra.

As if in response, a surge of Buddhist light rose from the distance, accompanied by the chanting of Zen scriptures.

Through the Yuqing Zhou Tian Dharma Mirror, Lei Jun saw Wang Guiyuan, now in the guise of the White Lotus Holy Master, Jingjiu, also silently reciting scriptures. Beside him, six manifestations of the Earth Treasury Bodhisattva radiated a gentle glow, illuminating the cold and silent Luoyuan.

Lei Jun approached Wang Guiyuan, directing his gaze elsewhere.

There, the black-purple Silver Moon Nether Phoenix spread her wings, flying into the distance.

"Is she planning to stay in Luoyuan?" Lei Jun inquired.

Wang Guiyuan nodded. "Yes, she will remain. This place is among the most suitable for her cultivation. Having such a neighbor might be beneficial should Wujian stir again in the future."

Lei Jun watched the disappearing Silver Moon Nether Phoenix with interest. "A phoenix of noble purity, yet cultivating demonic aura and malevolent energy. Such a foundation is indeed rare."

Wang Guiyuan had decided to stay in Luoyuan. With his presence, others could not dominate Luoyuan as the Lord of Youluo once did. However, he had no intention of ruling this realm as Ji Yao of Shushan or Li Yuanheng of the Tanli clan had done.

As long as Wujian remained dormant, he was content.

The Silver Moon Nether Phoenix, despite her cultivation of demonic aura, was more domineering and aggressive than other phoenixes. Yet, since Wang Guiyuan had no intention of monopolizing Luoyuan and restricting her space, she had no reason to cause further trouble.

"She doesn't take lives and hasn't wreaked havoc in the human world before. Let her be," Lei Jun said, shifting his gaze. "What about the Grand Abyss Nether Turtle?"

Wang Guiyuan replied, "Though he hasn't entered the Great Tang's human realm, his actions mirror those of the Lord of Youluo, the Bone Flood Dragon Emperor, and the Nether Moss—treating human lives as insignificant. However, due to other entanglements, we'll spare his life for now and deal with him later. I've sealed him within the Vacuum Bottle."

Lei Jun circled the Vacuum Bottle. "So this is the Vacuum Bottle, on par with the Nine-Rank Lotus Platform. Truly extraordinary."

The White Lotus Sect originated from the ancient Buddhist holy sites of Tianlong Temple, Xuanyuan Temple, and Bodhi Temple, representing the three Buddhist paths of aspiration, discipline, and Zen martial arts. Thus, the White Lotus Sect inherited all three traditions, symbolized by the treasure bottle, lotus, and bodhi.

The renowned Nine-Rank Lotus Platform stemmed from the discipline path, while the Vacuum Bottle originated from the aspiration path.

With Jingjiu having been in seclusion for years, the Vacuum Bottle hadn't appeared in the Great Tang's human realm for a long time.

"In my early years, I needed the Vacuum Bottle's assistance to quell the chaos of Wujian," Wang Guiyuan said, standing beside the treasure bottle. "Now, the situation has slightly improved."

Lei Jun peered into the bottle.

Inside, he saw a massive golden Buddhist figure entwined with dragons, sitting cross-legged atop an island-sized giant turtle, palms pressed together in prayer.

This Great Mighty Heavenly Dragon Bodhisattva's form appeared even larger than the Grand Abyss Nether Turtle.

Lei Jun glanced at the Bodhisattva, then at Wang Guiyuan outside the Vacuum Bottle, who was manifesting the six Earth Treasury Bodhisattvas.

"Congratulations, Senior Brother. Have you achieved the Reward Body?"

The White Lotus Holy Master, Jingjiu, and the Tianlong Temple's eminent monk, Faqing, both followed the aspiration path of Buddhism.

In this path, the ninth heaven's Dharma Body realm comprises five stages: Preparation, Stabilization, Insight, Realization, and Liberation.

The first stage, Preparation, marks the initial formation of the Dharma Body. Building upon this, one accumulates vast aspirations to benefit all beings, signifying the transition from the eighth to the ninth heaven.

From a combative perspective, this stage enhances the practitioner's Dharma Body and Buddhist powers, elevating other Buddhist abilities accordingly.

The second stage, Stabilization, denotes a state of wisdom and tranquility. In combat, it manifests as increased stability and defense of the Dharma Body.

The third stage, Insight, involves observing wisdom and perceiving the world. This stage significantly enhances perception and awareness, akin to the Confucian fourth stage of "Change" in the classics.

In Buddhism, regardless of the path, emphasis is placed on the mind and soul.

The fourth stage, Realization, pertains to realizing emptiness, transcending birth and death, and detaching from the world—also known as the mind of detachment.

In combat, this stage makes it difficult for adversaries to discern the practitioner's true nature, requiring unique spells to counter.

The fifth stage, Liberation, involves attaining true self-nature, entering emptiness, and achieving great liberation.

Externally, the most notable feature is the ability to resurrect once.

Upon completing all five stages, the practitioner transforms detachment into the Bodhi mind, thereby attaining the Reward Body in addition to the Dharma Body.

From a combat perspective, the Reward Body functions almost as a second self, possessing the Dharma Body's mystical qualities, accumulated wisdom, and the ability to discern the opponent's true nature.

Using Lei Jun's gaming analogy, at this stage, the practitioner is nearly invulnerable, while effortlessly targeting the opponent's weaknesses.

Earlier, through the Yuqing Zhou Tian Dharma Mirror, Lei Jun had seen Wang Guiyuan's Peacock King Bodhisattva Dharma Body. Now, seeing Wang Guiyuan outside the Vacuum Bottle and the Great Mighty Heavenly Dragon Bodhisattva inside, he surmised that the latter was Wang Guiyuan's Reward Body.

Peering through the Vacuum Bottle, his initial view was somewhat unclear.

Wang Guiyuan candidly said, "Junior Brother, you're too kind. I haven't reached the Liberation stage yet."

He continued, "Compared to other Buddhist practitioners, my situation is unique, largely due to Wujian. Coincidentally, both my past and present selves follow the aspiration path, leading to some unusual transformations between the two."

Lei Jun understood. "Senior Brother, you're at the fourth stage, Realization, having cultivated the mind of detachment. Though Wujian has lessened your lifespan constraints, it has also hindered your daily cultivation, holding you back."

Wang Guiyuan replied, "I serve as a cautionary tale. Junior Brother, take heed."

Lei Jun turned his attention to the Grand Abyss Nether Turtle. "Who's backing this demon turtle?"

"Guixu," Wang Guiyuan answered. "Currently, the Vacuum Bottle and I are jointly suppressing him, severing his connection to Guixu. But we must remain vigilant."

Lei Jun nodded slightly.

He recalled the upheavals following Guixu's descent into the ancient Song realm. Had the Sumeru Lotus Sect's leader not been trapped within Guixu, the Ming realm's invasion of Sumeru wouldn't have triggered such drastic changes.

There might be a demon saint above the ninth heaven residing there.

Together with Wang Guiyuan, Lei Jun scrutinized the Grand Abyss Nether Turtle, pondering deeply.

"Kunpeng, perhaps?"

As the brothers conversed, the tremors in Luoyuan gradually subsided.

Wang Guiyuan had harnessed Luoyuan's power to suppress the restless Wujian.

After all, this was Luoyuan's domain, and Wujian was an intruder.

Without Wang Guiyuan's subtle guidance, Luoyuan began to repel Wujian's invasion.

Leveraging Luoyuan's strength, Wang Guiyuan re-sealed Wujian.

With Wujian's chaos quelled, Luoyuan's own turbulence began to wane.

The six Earth Treasury Bodhisattvas' radiance also started to fade within Luoyuan.

However, Wang Guiyuan maintained his appearance as the White Lotus Holy Master, Jingjiu.

Additionally, beside Jingjiu, the figure of the Tianlong Temple's monk, Faqing, manifested.

Soon after, another image of Wang Guiyuan appeared beside Faqing.

On one hand, Luoyuan was gradually stabilizing.

On the other, with the support of Jingjiu and Faqing, Wang Guiyuan, despite his relatively lower cultivation, could still reside within Luoyuan.

Seeing his senior brother's determination and recognizing the conducive environment for his cultivation, Lei Jun refrained from further persuasion.

Wang Guiyuan rarely discussed his own cultivation but was well aware of his progress.

Lei Jun shared this understanding.

Apart from the Silver Moon Nether Phoenix, the top-tier demons of Luoyuan—such as the Lord of Youluo and the Bone Flood Dragon Emperor—had all been vanquished.

However, Luoyuan still housed some lesser demons.

These demons and the wandering souls of the Netherworld would become the focus of Wang Guiyuan's future cultivation and salvation efforts.

As a practitioner of the aspiration path in Buddhism, this was an inevitable aspect of his journey.

With the remaining demons in Luoyuan and the calamity spirits from Wujian, Jingjiu—or rather, Faqing—could continue his cultivation without venturing into the mortal realm.

The only concern Lei Jun had was Wang Guiyuan's Daoist cultivation in the talisman tradition, which progressed relatively slowly.

At least, it couldn't compare to his Buddhist cultivation in the aspiration path.

Even without sending his past self, the White Lotus Holy Master, Jingjiu, into nirvana to reincarnate, maintaining his current threefold existence still seemed unbalanced.

Compared to his past and present, Wang Guiyuan's future self appeared notably weaker.

Lei Jun, with his exceptional insight and understanding, recognized this disparity.

Not only was his Daoist cultivation in the talisman tradition among the best in the human realm, but his knowledge of Buddhist traditions also surpassed.

Fortunately, Lei Jun had traveled to the Yellow Springs more than once before and had adapted to similar environments.

Therefore, the talismans he left behind could also persist within Luoyuan’s conditions.

“In that case, I’ll leave it to you, Senior Brother,” Lei Jun said.

Wang Guiyuan replied, “We do need to watch out for the Kunpeng Demon Saint, but fortunately, I have no intention of guarding this place alone.”

The dangers of Luoyuan, in some ways, surpassed even those of the Earth Sea.

Although the human realm of the Tang Dynasty appeared peaceful on the surface, neither Lei Jun nor Wang Guiyuan intended to open stable void portals connecting Luoyuan to the human world.

However, for those with special means to travel solo and infrequently between Luoyuan, Lei Jun and Wang Guiyuan had no intention of blocking them.

Xing Feng, the Sect Master of the Tang Dynasty’s Blood River Sect, had once obtained a great opportunity, enabling him to travel freely between the human world and Luoyuan.

His cultivation differed from the traditional Blood River Sect techniques, integrating deeper concepts of life, death, and the Netherworld, establishing a unique path.

It was Mu Weizi who had mediated, leading Lord Youluo, the Bone Dragon King, and the Nether Moss to unite and drive out the Silvermoon Nether Phoenix and the Nether Tortoise of the Abyss, seizing their influence and gaining greater control over this realm. This had cut off Xing Feng’s access to Luoyuan when he was still fighting alone.

Now, with Lord Youluo and other great demons fallen, and the Silvermoon Nether Phoenix failing to take their place, Xing Feng once again had the opportunity to enter Luoyuan.

Lei Jun and Wang Guiyuan would not stop him.

In fact, the current environment of Luoyuan was even more advantageous for Xing Feng.

He might even invite other experts from the Tang Dynasty’s Wumen sect, such as Li Tianqing, to enter Luoyuan together.

Among the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, Luoyuan had long been occupied by Wumen’s human cultivators.

However, an upheaval years ago had led to it falling into the hands of the demon race.

Lei Jun had discussed this matter when he met with Ke Lang, the Lord of Kongsang Dudu, in the Han Dynasty human realm.

Kongsang had originally been a demon domain but had later changed hands, falling under the control of Wumen.

According to Ke Lang, the two sides had essentially swapped places during the same period.

The Grand Wumen of Luoyuan had entered Kongsang, while the great demons of Kongsang had come into Luoyuan.

The timing, Ke Lang believed, was around the period just before the Great Calamity at the end of the Han Dynasty.

Even so, Ke Lang didn’t have a complete understanding of the details. It might require asking the Kongsang Witch King for the full story.

There were rare, unconfirmed rumors that the incident had something to do with the Kongsang Witch King achieving the Ninefold Heaven realm at that time—and possibly, he wasn’t the only one.

But after the Great Calamity of the late Han, the details had become obscure, with few remaining who knew the full story.

After a few more words with Wang Guiyuan, Lei Jun took his leave from Luoyuan and returned to the Tang Dynasty’s human realm.

This was a swift and decisive operation.

In no time at all, Luoyuan had changed hands.

Lei Jun returned to the ancestral hall of the Tianshi Mansion on Mount Longhu and reported the situation to his master, Yuan Mobai.

Yuan Mobai gave a slight nod. “Zhonggui’s delay cost him years, but as time passes, he’s gradually breaking free of his shackles. Now, though he remains in Luoyuan, he can cultivate without the worries he once had. Ultimately, this is a good thing.”

Lei Jun added, “Both I and Senior Brother agree. Though Luoyuan is sealed off, I’ll make sure Senior Brother has everything he needs for his cultivation. I’ll instruct others to prepare and regularly send him supplies.”

Yuan Mobai said, “Send them, of course. Let’s restock his stores.”

Both master and disciple exchanged a knowing smile.

It was obvious that Wang Guiyuan had plenty of supplies stockpiled himself.

Sending more was really just an excuse to help him rotate his stock, letting him safely consume the older items while building up a fresher inventory.

Yuan Mobai’s smile faded slightly as he continued, “But the Kunpeng Demon Saint from Guixu might not give up so easily. We’ll need to remain vigilant.”

Lei Jun nodded.

He fully understood the unspoken meaning behind his master’s words.

Given the strength that Mount Longhu’s Tianshi Mansion had accumulated, and with Wang Guiyuan wielding the powers of Wujian, even if the Kunpeng Demon Saint attacked alone, they would face a powerful enemy, but not an insurmountable one. The situation wouldn’t be one of life and death with no room for error.

But if other strong figures joined in, the threat they would face could escalate sharply.

Lei Jun had never stopped worrying about the time when Zongga, the Lord of the Sumeru Lotus Division, had managed to leave Guixu intact—without the need for the Enlightened Wisdom Venerable to personally intervene.

Although there was no concrete evidence that an agreement existed between them, Lei Jun had always believed it was prudent to prepare for the worst.

Then there was the Golden Khan Ongqinfu.

If those three Celestial Realm experts ever cooperated, the danger they posed would far exceed the threat of any one of them acting alone.

It was precisely out of concern for such developments that Lei Jun and the others had repeatedly sealed the void portals connecting the Earth Sea, Datong, and the human realm.

The good news now was that the Golden Khan Ongqinfu was in deep slumber, suspended in an alien void beyond the sky.

Even if a message were sent to the human realm, it was unlikely he would receive it in time.

Still, such things were never guaranteed.

That was why the Golden Khan Kingdom of the Song people remained strong, even in the absence of Ongqinfu and Zongga—still exerting pressure on the Canglang Khanate and the remaining Song forces—because of the uncertainty surrounding Ongqinfu’s situation.

“Oh, by the way…”

Yuan Mobai seemed to recall something. “There’s been some unrest in Penglai recently, but the cause is unclear.”

Lei Jun pondered for a moment. “…Eastern Green Emperor?”

The waves in Penglai had surged, but only for a short while.

After parting with Yuan Mobai, Lei Jun set off for Penglai.

By the time he arrived, the tides had calmed.

After a thorough inspection, Lei Jun had a sense of the situation:

Someone had attempted to enter Penglai from the outside—most likely the Eastern Green Emperor, Shen Xi.

However, after a brief attempt failed, he had given up.

Lei Jun’s Yu Qing Zhou Tian Divination Mirror reflected the human world of the Jin Dynasty from the Observation Platform.

In the Jin Dynasty’s Shu Mountain Sect, the Sect Master, Shen Xi, returned from the outside.

His trusted disciple and senior brother, Li Wanqiu, hurried over to greet him.

Inside the quiet room, only the two of them were present. Li Wanqiu, one of Shen Xi’s most loyal confidants, spoke softly, “Sect Master, how is Grandmaster Gongsun’s condition?”

Shen Xi spoke slowly, “Though the situation hasn’t changed much, our master’s condition has worsened slightly.”

Hearing this, Li Wanqiu’s expression grew serious.

The health of the previous sect master, Gongsun Daoqi, was steadily deteriorating.

While the decline had been gradual and not yet severe, no one could say when it might suddenly take a turn for the worse.

The situation couldn’t be dragged out much longer.

“Penglai… is it still no use?” Li Wanqiu asked, his tone heavy.

He, too, had once followed Shen Xi into Penglai, but now, not only he, but even Shen Xi—the Eastern Green Emperor himself—could no longer enter Penglai.

Shen Xi fell silent for a moment, then said, “I’m preparing to head to another human realm—to the Tianshi Mansion of Mount Longhu.”

Li Wanqiu’s voice grew grave, “Sect Master… is that really feasible? From what we know of the situation in Penglai, the Tianshi Mansion of Mount Longhu has undergone a complete reformation of their Daoist arts. They’re no longer aligned with the ancient Talisman Sect—in fact, they’re outright hostile toward it.

It’s precisely because of this that, after the fall of the Black Emperor in the north, the upheaval in Penglai occurred.

In the past, perhaps we could still negotiate with them. But now, we’ve already become entangled with the Talisman Sect’s heritage.”

Shen Xi replied calmly, “We have to try.”

Li Wanqiu hesitated, then asked, “Penglai’s gates remain sealed, and the talismans we used to rely on no longer work. Without Penglai as a pathway, how do you plan to get there?”

Shen Xi answered, “We’ll simply travel through the human realm.”

Li Wanqiu was stunned.

Shen Xi continued, “The Lin Clan of Jiangzhou has been quietly opening a void portal that connects to another human realm.”

Li Wanqiu’s eyes widened. “Such a thing… and no word has gotten out?”

Shen Xi explained, “They’ve been careful until now, but their activities have become more brazen recently because the human realm on the other side has undergone a major change.”

Li Wanqiu asked, “Is the other side… the Tang Dynasty’s human realm?”

Shen Xi shook his head. “The human realm on the other side is called the Han Dynasty.”

He had been operating in secret, gathering information from contacts within the Lin Clan of Jiangzhou in the Southern Jin, learning details about the Jin-Han human realm and the Han Dynasty.

He also discovered that the Jin-Han human realm had a direct connection to the Tang Dynasty’s human realm.

By using the Jin-Han human realm as a bridge, it was actually possible to travel from the Jin Dynasty to the Tang Dynasty.

Both the Lin Clan of the Han Dynasty and the Lin Clan of the Southern Jin had been quietly guarding the void portals.

But for Shen Xi, this wasn’t an obstacle.

Not only was his personal cultivation level extraordinary, but he also possessed several of Shu Mountain’s treasured artifacts.

Among them, the Taiyi Celestial Garment held profound secrets of the void.

Li Wanqiu fell into deep thought, processing Shen Xi’s explanation. “Sect Master, as you said, the Lin Clan of Jiangzhou has been making increasingly bold moves. It’s likely they’ll draw attention from other powers in the south and the north. This could spark major trouble.”

Shen Xi nodded. “Exactly. That’s why I need to act quickly.”

After a moment’s silence, Li Wanqiu made a decisive offer. “Sect Master, let me go ahead and scout the way. Once I’ve secured the route, you can follow.”

But Shen Xi raised a hand to stop him. “No. I will go.”

Li Wanqiu protested anxiously, “Sect Master, your cultivation is, of course, higher than mine, but the Tianshi Mansion of Mount Longhu is not a place to be underestimated!”

Shen Xi replied, “My cultivation surpasses yours precisely so I can avoid detection and minimize risks—not to engage in combat.”

Li Wanqiu insisted, “The Tianshi Mansion of Mount Longhu—”

Shen Xi cut him off. “Whether it’s Penglai, the Human Dao Nation, or the Eastern Green Emperor, it’s all for the sake of our master, for the sake of the sect.

If there’s a different path that can help prolong our master’s life and support the sect’s legacy, then we should take it, no matter the cost.

My personal safety and reputation mean little in comparison.

Besides, this may not even be a risk.”