Seeking Fortune and Avoiding Misfortune: Starting from the Celestial Master’s Mansion
Chapter 450: Artificially Stimulating the Surge of Heaven and Earth’s Spiritual Energy

"Third Junior Brother is truly full of surprises."

Lei Jun was chatting with his master, Yuan Mobai, about their junior brother, Chu Kun's Divine Palace Universe, and couldn’t help but sigh.

Over the years of interacting with each other, they had already gained a good understanding of Chu Kun’s situation.

But it was only after seeing the outer manifestation of Chu Kun’s Divine Palace that Lei Jun realized this Third Junior Brother was like a giant onion—peeling layer after layer, yet never reaching the core.

Chu Kun's natural constitution was the Celestial River Immortal Body. His innate Divine Techniques, the Doumu Star Divine Form and the Tianchen Flame Ancestor Divine Form, both reflected the profound mysteries of the Celestial River constellation.

That he cultivated a Divine Palace Universe similar to his master Yuan Mobai and senior brother Lei Jun was not unexpected.

However, the appearance of a Central Divine Continent within that Celestial River was entirely beyond expectations.

It was a mystery Chu Kun had never revealed before.

Yet, the Divine Palace Universe was the culmination of a cultivator’s lifelong studies and insights in the Talisman Dao at the Eighth Heaven stage of the Talisman Sect, so it made sense that such a unique land would emerge in Chu Kun’s Divine Palace.

Neither Lei Jun nor Yuan Mobai had ever seen it before, so they too were witnessing it for the first time.

But since Chu Kun had manifested it openly before them now, it was clear he no longer intended to keep it hidden.

Otherwise, he could have continued to obscure the Divine Continent with the Celestial River.

"Master leads the way, but cultivation depends on the individual. Let each find their own path—that’s how it should be," Yuan Mobai said with his usual calm smile.

Lei Jun grinned, "Third Junior Brother is full of hidden talents. If Senior Brother knew, he’d probably be delighted... hmm, no, he’d more likely feel it’s a pity that Third Junior Brother has exposed his secrets."

Yuan Mobai glanced at Lei Jun and chuckled, "Sect Master, you’re being too modest."

He shook his head slightly, "Didn’t you just say before that now that Hua Fei has entered the sect, we must set a good example as teachers?"

Lei Jun said casually, "No worries, Master. The little ones aren’t around right now."

After a few light-hearted exchanges, the topic of Chu Kun’s Divine Palace Universe was dropped.

Having spent so many years together, they had no intention of prying into Chu Kun’s secrets.

Even now, when Chu Kun was starting to reveal some of them, they felt no need to dig deeper.

Whenever Chu Kun was ready, he’d speak up directly.

Time passed, and after receiving special authorization to be granted the talisman scriptures, Han Xiaofei remained humble and focused, diligently cultivating and progressing by leaps and bounds.

Cheng Rongrong, who hadn’t yet received her talisman, also didn’t rush ahead—she followed her own pace, steadily cultivating in silence.

For such gifted talents, Lei Jun had been strict in overseeing their foundation work early on, but afterward, he mostly allowed them to explore on their own, offering occasional guidance when necessary.

Neither of the girls wasted the foundation laid for them. They both cultivated with focus and became standouts among the younger disciples.

Following the granting of the talisman scriptures and Lei Jun’s personal transmission of the new chapter of The True Path of the Dao, Han Xiaofei progressed rapidly. In just a few years since joining the sect, she had already reached the Fourth Heaven stage in the Talisman Dao, forming her Origin Talisman and stepping into the Middle Three Heavens tier.

In terms of years of cultivation, her speed even surpassed Lei Jun’s own back in the day, second only to Tang Xiaotang.

Lei Jun wasn’t surprised. Han Xiaofei’s innate talent when she joined the sect was much higher than his at the same stage. Her quicker start was only natural.

Cheng Rongrong, on the other hand, though she had reached the Third Heaven’s third tier in the Dao Altar stage without being granted a talisman, was not yet ready to attempt the tribulation to cross into the Fourth Heaven.

Han Xiaofei, brimming with excitement, stabilized her cultivation after emerging from seclusion. She couldn’t wait to start practicing her first innate talisman technique and went looking for her senior sister for a “friendly match.”

"Little Senior Sister! Little Senior Sister!"

No sign of anyone... correction, no sign of any bear.

"...Senior Sister Cheng? Rongrong Senior Sister?" Han Xiaofei adjusted her address and changed her strategy.

Still, no bear responded.

After circling around in her dark red Daoist robes several times, she finally heard the voice of her senior brother Zhuo Baojie:

"Senior Sister Cheng went to Senior Uncle Tang’s secluded residence for a closed-door retreat."

Before Han Xiaofei could respond, Zhuo Baojie leisurely added, "That residence has a restriction placed by Senior Uncle Tang. Among the younger disciples, only her direct disciple, Senior Sister Cheng, can enter."

Han Xiaofei’s face fell instantly.

Zhuo Baojie, with his paws behind his back, ambled past her, saying, "Let’s go, let’s go see the Master first."

Han Xiaofei trailed behind dejectedly. "How could Little Senior Sister be like this... Is she planning to wait until she’s granted her talisman before coming out again? It’s been so long—I really miss her."

Zhuo Baojie strolled leisurely ahead. "She can’t hide forever. Everyone’s on their own cultivation path. There’ll be a time when you meet again."

Han Xiaofei pouted. "So in the end, she’s just avoiding me. Was I really being that obvious...?"

As she walked along, a familiar black-and-white, round figure appeared in her vision.

Han Xiaofei’s eyes immediately lit up.

But after glancing at the other party’s purple Daoist robes, then looking down at her own dark red Daoist robes, she could only sigh in resignation.

Zhuo Baojie seemed to know exactly what she was thinking and shook his head, smiling wryly.

Their little junior sister might not be a kid anymore, but she still had a lot of playful, childish thoughts.

If she truly wanted something, she’d probably get it more often than not.

Cheng Rongrong was sharp-minded, but her cultivation wasn’t yet beyond Han Xiaofei’s.

If Han Xiaofei had no strong offensive intent, she could leverage her Illusory Immortal Physique’s unique traits to potentially catch Cheng Rongrong off guard, misleading her into forgetting Han Xiaofei’s presence altogether.

Ah, they’re all still just kids...

A certain bear with a rich history of mistakes sighed inwardly.

Soon after, the young Daoist maiden followed Zhuo Baojie into Lei Jun’s cultivation hall and greeted him with a respectful bow.

"Disciple pays respects to Master."

Lei Jun appeared calm as ever, continuing to teach and guide his disciples in their cultivation.

Now that Han Xiaofei had reached the Middle Three Heavens tier, besides her lifespan increasing, the most notable change was her ability to elevate her innate trio of arts.

Under Lei Jun’s guidance, Han Xiaofei first reviewed her foundational cultivation methods before proceeding to advance her innate arts.

Finally, Lei Jun waved his hand and summoned a high-grade talisman scripture.

"Now that you’ve reached the Fourth Heaven, you can choose your first innate primary technique. Do you have something in mind?"

Han Xiaofei blurted out without hesitation, "Master, I want to choose the Thousand Forms and Transformations Talisman."

Zhuo Baojie, standing off to the side, lifted a furry paw to cover his face.

In their lineage, ever since Yuan Mobai, it had practically become tradition to choose Stepping the Stars, Treading the Void as their primary technique upon reaching the Fourth Heaven.

Yuan Mobai, Wang Guiyuan, Lei Jun, Chu Kun, and even Zhuo Baojie himself had all chosen this path without exception.

Just like how they all chose Divine Strike Talisman as their first innate art in the Lower Three Heavens.

Han Xiaofei had followed the standard route in the Lower Three Heavens, but now that she was in the Middle Three Heavens, she couldn’t hold back any longer.

Lei Jun, however, wasn’t particularly concerned.

"You’ve been thinking about this for a long time. You’re already clear on the pros and cons of the Thousand Forms and Transformations Talisman. It’s fine to practice it during your regular studies, but if you’re fighting external foes, don’t get careless."

Han Xiaofei composed herself. "Yes, Master. Your disciple will remember your teachings."

The Thousand Forms and Transformations Talisman was one of the high-grade talismans recorded in the Heavenly Master’s High Talisman Scriptures. It wasn’t an ancient technique but was created by an ancestral master long after the sect’s founding.

After continuous refinement, it was eventually included in the sect’s high-grade talisman records, adding to the sect’s heritage.

Its strengths and weaknesses were well known.

Its strength lay in low energy consumption and the ability to cast and maintain it multiple times in a short span, allowing the user to assume various forms.

At a glance, there were essentially no visible flaws—it could mimic ordinary birds and beasts, and even some spirit beasts and demon beasts in appearance.

But the weakness was just as obvious.

Strictly speaking, it wasn’t truly a technique for transforming the body but rather a form of illusion magic.

Thus, it could easily be seen through by cultivators of similar levels.

Even cultivators of slightly lower realms, if their path emphasized perception and insight, could also spot the illusion.

Furthermore, while it could mimic the appearance of demon beasts, it couldn’t replicate their demonic aura or malevolent presence.

Only high-realm cultivators casting this talisman could hope to deceive mid- to low-realm cultivators.

Take Lei Jun, for instance—he also knew this talisman.

While it wasn’t his innate talisman, he could still fool most people, even many Upper Three Heavens cultivators.

But the catch was... Lei Jun rarely needed the Thousand Forms and Transformations Talisman in the first place. There were already very few in this world who could detect his presence.

Other high-realm cultivators might not be as extreme, but the principle was the same.

Therefore, among the generations of Tianshi Mansion’s Heavenly Master Sect, very few chose the Thousand Forms and Transformations Talisman, and none had ever picked it as their innate primary talisman.

But as the saying went, the world is vast, and there’s no shortage of wonders.

For the Thousand Forms and Transformations Talisman, Han Xiaofei might just be the exception.

She took to it with great enthusiasm, picking it up remarkably fast.

Soon, Lei Jun’s cultivation hall echoed with beastly roars and bird calls.

Lei Jun, watching from the side, nodded in approval again and again.

Zhuo Baojie, however, had mixed feelings.

He couldn’t help but wonder—what would Master Yuan Mobai think if he saw this scene?

Zhuo Baojie and Cheng Rongrong, as spirit beasts, never felt compelled to take human form.

Their master, Yuan Mobai, was the exact opposite—he always stayed in human form, only rarely revealing his true form.

And now, here was Han Xiaofei, a human cultivator, enthusiastically transforming into all sorts of birds and beasts...

When she finally turned into a panda about her size, wearing a dark red Daoist robe, circling him non-stop, even the usually calm Elder Zhuo couldn’t help but stare blankly.

"Junior Sister, have you gone to pay your respects to Master yet?" Zhuo Baojie took a deep breath, asking gently.

Han Xiaofei replied, "Of course! But Master was meditating, so I didn’t dare disturb him."

Zhuo Baojie said, "Master came out of seclusion today."

The black-and-white bear-shaped Han Xiaofei looked toward Lei Jun.

Seeing that Lei Jun didn’t stop her, she bowed and excused herself, then trotted off in her panda form to pay respects to Yuan Mobai.

This left Lei Jun and Zhuo Baojie staring at each other in the hall.

"Disciple will also take his leave now. I won’t disturb Master any longer..." Zhuo Baojie hadn’t even finished speaking before he was already floating in midair.

A moment later, his small figure was caught by Lei Jun, who gave him a good rub.

"Bao Bao, you’ve been getting cheeky. That’s not good."

Lei Jun gave him a few more playful rubs before putting his eldest disciple down.

"Senior brothers should act like senior brothers."

Zhuo Baojie calmly adjusted his robes and replied, "Disciple will remember Master’s teachings."

Lei Jun returned to his serious, teacherly demeanor. "You’ve done well. Whether it’s Han Fei or Junior Sister Hua Rong, their rapid progress owes much to your care and support."

Zhuo Baojie responded, "Master flatters me. I don’t deserve the credit. The two junior sisters’ progress is due to their own talents and diligent cultivation."

Lei Jun nodded. "As long as Han Fei maintains her momentum, all is well. Junior Sister Hua Rong will need to be watched more closely later on."

Zhuo Baojie nodded softly. "Junior Sister Hua Rong is calm and steady, and with Senior Uncle Tang and Master’s guidance, she should be fine."

From the beginning, when Cheng Rongrong first entered the sect, Zhuo Baojie knew the difference between them.

By either spirit beast or human cultivator standards, they were both prodigies.

But having chosen the path of human cultivation, there were some things she’d never match with Han Xiaofei, nor with Lei Jun or Chu Kun.

Different challenges awaited them.

Zhuo Baojie and Cheng Rongrong would each face different hurdles.

Their foundations were different—Zhuo Baojie’s talents lay mainly in physical strength and vitality. After gaining sentience, his mind developed more slowly.

When he first entered the Heavenly Master Sect and came under Lei Jun’s tutelage, his progress was slow, largely because Lei Jun deliberately controlled the pace for his safety and development.

As Zhuo Baojie’s cultivation grew stronger and those worries faded, he could now progress like other human cultivators—and even surpass them in some areas.

Cheng Rongrong, however, was the opposite. She was much more perceptive than Zhuo Baojie at a younger age.

Her talent wasn’t just in comprehension—her soul talent was exceptional as well.

Whether it was when she first gained sentience or when she started her cultivation in the sect, she could quickly translate her potential into tangible progress.

If she hadn’t chosen to delay her talisman initiation, Han Xiaofei might not have been the first to reach the Fourth Heaven.

For now, Cheng Rongrong’s progress would continue at a rapid pace.

Her hurdle, however, would come later—when she approached or reached the Upper Three Heavens stage.

At that point, if not handled properly, she could easily get stuck at the bottleneck between major realms.

This was tied to her innate foundation, and it couldn’t be preemptively avoided.

For now, it wasn’t yet time for the elders to step in. They simply needed to make the situation clear.

Cheng Rongrong remained remarkably calm, unhurried and steady, continuing her cultivation according to the original plan and pace.

...

One of the Nine Heavens, Sumeru.

At the center of the Buddhist Pure Land, atop Mount Sumeru, sat the golden-skinned, faintly radiant Venerable Wisdom in lotus posture. His entire form shimmered faintly with a soft, glass-like glow.

At a certain moment, he abruptly rose to his feet.

Below Mount Sumeru, the Buddha Division’s Master Vimasha, the Treasure Division’s Master Fandato, and the Karma Division’s Master Jatiluo were all seated in meditation, chanting sutras.

As Venerable Wisdom rose, the three masters ceased their chanting, stood up, and respectfully exchanged mudras and greetings.

Venerable Wisdom gestured for them to dispense with the formalities, then looked down at Mount Sumeru and said, “This phase can be temporarily set aside.”

He stepped forward and descended from above Mount Sumeru.

Karma Division’s Master Jatiluo spoke: “Venerable, there’s still no word from the Lotus Division. The Golden Khan Ongqinfu remains in slumber in the void beyond the realms.”

Venerable Wisdom nodded slightly. “Things in Kongsang have been settled. Guixu is ready. Once the Golden Khan awakens and returns from the outer void, we can proceed to Kongsang.”

Vimasha, Fandato, and Jatiluo chanted the Buddha’s name in unison.

In the current Han realm, the princes of the Han Dynasty had long been vying for the emperor’s throne.

While Sumeru had also supported one side, it had rarely intervened directly, relying more on its influence to deter rivals.

Their goals in recent years had been clear.

The world is ever-changing, and strategies must adapt accordingly.

The objective might shift, but the core pursuit remained unchanged: to assist the Golden Khan Ongqinfu in claiming dominion over one of the Nine Heavens and Ten Lands.

This was both helping others and helping themselves—securing a powerful ally while restoring the depleted vitality of Sumeru.

It was known that multiple factions within the Nine Heavens and Ten Lands had sought contact with the Tang realm—but most had failed to find an opening.

Cases like Di Hai and Datong were prime examples.

The remaining ones—Penglai, Guizang, and even rumored Luoyuan—faced the same challenge.

Tang cultivators were well-prepared, cautious, and capable, leaving little room for exploitation.

Datong had recently taken the initiative to reconnect with the Han realm, but this news was, ironically, worse.

Tang Empress Zhang Wantong had achieved sainthood—becoming a Saint in her own right—and was very likely now in Datong.

Compared to the fierce, thriving Tang cultivators, the Kongsang Witch King, still wounded from past battles, was a much more suitable target.

“However, the Tang cultivators and the Saha side may intervene,” Treasure Division’s Master Fandato remarked softly.

Venerable Wisdom nodded slightly. “I will handle it.”

If they were to act against the Tang or Saha first, the former were in better condition, and the Kunpeng Demon Saint of Guixu likely wouldn’t join the fray—leaving just Venerable Wisdom and the Golden Khan to fight alone.

Kongsang, on the other hand, had the injured Witch King, and they could persuade the Kunpeng Demon Saint to assist.

Kongsang had long been occupied by great demons before it fell under the control of the Witch Sect.

But it still held opportunities vital to the demon race.

That was why the Kunpeng might genuinely exert effort here.

On the other hand, Sumeru and Saha had areas where cooperation was possible—at least for now.

Venerable Wisdom pressed his palm onto Mount Sumeru.

Moments later, the mountain radiated light, and several items seemed to emerge from its base.

He handed a vajra scepter to Vimasha and a blue lotus platform to Karma Division’s Master Jatiluo.

“Prepare yourselves,” Venerable Wisdom instructed.

Vimasha and Jatiluo bowed and departed.

The rarely-seen Vimasha returned to the Two Jin realms, settling in the Diamond Temple of Northern Jin.

There, he wrote letters to the south and quietly waited for a response.

Eventually, he received a reply, then calmly set out.

In the vast, desolate ocean, far from any shore, Vimasha met with someone as agreed.

That person was the Abbot Baoneng of Southern Jin’s Xiaoxitian.

Though the Buddhist factions of the Two Jin realms were embroiled in fierce rivalry, these two great monks met without hostility or aggression, their expressions serene and dignified.

Yet, there was no warmth either.

“Venerable’s intention is that we begin as soon as possible,” Vimasha said.

Abbot Baoneng pressed his palms together. “This humble monk has already prepared everything per my master’s instructions. We can begin anytime, but it will take some years for the results to manifest.”

Vimasha replied, “The same applies to the north. Let us proceed upon our return.”

“Agreed,” Baoneng nodded.

The conversation was brief, and both parties departed.

Baoneng returned to Xiaoxitian, where besides the monks, the leaders of several key Buddhist sects of Southern Jin—those from the Saha—were gathered.

“Senior Brother, has the Venerable agreed to this matter?” asked Master Yuanfeng of Bodhi Temple.

Baoneng nodded. “Yes.”

Yuanfeng and the others fell silent, then someone remarked, “Sumeru must have offered something in return. They’ve also reached out separately to Uncle Chonghui.”

What they were plotting was something Sumeru had requested of Saha.

Saha had long been prepared for this, but when to begin was another matter.

Strictly speaking, the current situation favored Sumeru, not Saha.

Venerable Wisdom’s aim was to trigger an early surge of spiritual energy in the Two Jin realms.

Historically, the Two Jin had never experienced such a surge.

Without intervention, no one knew how long it would take.

But after extensive preparation, Venerable Wisdom and Saha’s Venerable Puguang were finally ready—an artificial awakening of the spiritual tide in the Two Jin realms.

They might be rivals, but at times, even enemies collaborate.

Of course, this cooperation didn’t mean they would become allies.

Both Venerable Puguang and Lei Jun shared the same assessment.

Once the final human realm experienced the spiritual surge, the void would tremble, and the fragmented histories of the human realms—scattered since the Great Cataclysm at the end of the Han Dynasty—might reunite.

This would bring upheaval, but for top cultivators, the key was that they could finally move freely across the newly unified human realm.

Sumeru had already secured an ally in the Golden Khan’s empire.

If Saha faced them alone, the outcome was uncertain.

Still, Venerable Puguang agreed.

Sumeru must have offered something substantial in return.

This entire exchange bypassed Abbot Baoneng.

“Could it be the Blue Lotus Platform?” Yuanfeng whispered.

Baoneng smiled faintly. “No need to guess. A message has arrived: Karma Division’s Master Jatiluo from Sumeru sent the Blue Lotus Platform, and Uncle Chonghui has received and returned it to Saha.”

He glanced at the group and spoke slowly, “Uncle Chonghui’s talent surpasses mine. He is now the most likely in Saha to achieve the Golden Body of a Buddha. This Blue Lotus Platform came at the perfect time.

Given the current situation, if he succeeds, it will benefit both Saha and all of us. If it were me, I wouldn’t have been able to achieve it within the next few years.”

Yuanfeng and the others sighed softly, pressed their palms together, and said, “You are right, Senior Brother. We will await the Venerable’s arrangements.”

...

In Saha’s Great Thunderclap Temple,

Chonghui returned and offered the Blue Lotus Platform, just received from Sumeru’s Karma Division Master Jatiluo.

The lotus shone with a glassy Buddha radiance, illuminating the surroundings before flying into the temple and landing in a monk’s palm.

This monk, like Venerable Wisdom, had golden skin and radiated an aura like a gilded Buddha statue.

He was none other than the leader of Saha—Venerable Puguang.

Chonghui bowed respectfully.

Though younger than Abbot Baoneng, he was Puguang’s new personal disciple, thus higher in seniority.

His talent was exceptional.

At a young age, he had already become one of the three Saha Buddhist masters at the fifth level of the Ninth Heaven.

The other two were Abbot Baoneng of Xiaoxitian in Southern Jin and the abbot of Xiaoxitian in the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms.

Chonghui remained at Saha’s Great Thunderclap Temple, studying under Venerable Puguang.

As Abbot Baoneng had said, though Chonghui was young, he was the closest in Saha to breaking through to the next level.

However, while Venerable Puguang hoped Saha could produce a second Golden Body Buddha soon, it wasn’t something Chonghui could achieve in the short term.

Beyond his own dedicated cultivation, he also needed a unique opportunity.

This opportunity wasn’t originally part of the plan, as the item was thought lost to Sumeru.

But now, Sumeru had sent it over.

The Blue Lotus Platform couldn’t be used directly.

When the cultivators of the Two Jin realms triggered the early awakening of the spiritual tide, the Blue Lotus Platform would be infused by the transformative power of the heavens and earth, becoming the Immovable Venerable Lotus Platform. That would mark Chonghui’s destined opportunity.

“For now, focus on cultivation,” Venerable Puguang instructed.

Chonghui pressed his palms together. “Yes, Master.”

...

Time passed.

Lei Jun celebrated his 87th birthday, spending the summer in the Han realm.

The Dao Law Reform was progressing smoothly, but Lei Jun still returned periodically to oversee matters personally.

After the Lunar New Year, the next Initiation Ceremony would be held, and Lei Jun would return to the Tang realm for it.

This ceremony would not affect the Tianshi Mansion in the Han Dynasty’s territory, nor the other Daoist talisman branches—their activities would continue as usual.

However, for the Ordination Ceremony, it was decided that the Han realm would select suitable disciples to travel together to the Tang realm’s ancestral temple for ordination.

At least for this first ordination after the Han’s reunification, this arrangement would hold.

Ma Zongxiang, Fu Yuzhou, and others had already begun preparations and selection.

While Lei Jun was at the Daoist Temple, a message arrived from the Tang realm:

Junior Sister Tang Xiaotang had emerged from seclusion, having successfully achieved Perfection in the Five Qi Facing the Origin, reaching the fifth level of the Ninth Heaven, and stepping onto the Bridge to the Profound.