Seeking Fortune and Avoiding Misfortune: Starting from the Celestial Master’s Mansion
Chapter 451: The Unreliable Master

“You’ve already taken care of Luoyuan?” Tang Xiaotang’s voice, though tinged with slight disappointment, carried no intense emotional fluctuations.

Although she had acted impulsively when she returned to the mountain to enter seclusion, she had been mentally prepared for this outcome.

With Wang Guiyuan pouring his intent into Luoyuan, he would likely have gleaned some clues from there. Once Lei Jun returned to the human world of the Great Tang, they wouldn’t have much trouble reopening the path to Luoyuan.

If Tang Xiaotang was disappointed, it was mostly because her own seclusion had lasted too long, and she’d missed out on the Luoyuan trip.

“Senior Brother Wang is still in Luoyuan, so what about Senior Sister? She’s still in Kunlun?” Tang Xiaotang asked.

Lei Jun replied, “Yes, Senior Sister is still in Kunlun. I even tried persuading her to return to the ancestral sect for rest, but it seems she’s grown rather attached to Kunlun.”

Tang Xiaotang smiled. “I’ll visit Penglai first, then later I’ll head to Kunlun to see Senior Sister. Now that we’re finally at the same level, we’ve got to spar properly!”

Lei Jun raised his eyebrows slightly at that.

Tang Xiaotang not rushing straight to Kunlun to see Xu Yuanzhen but instead choosing to go to Penglai first made him curious.

“Is this about the Sea of Primordial Beginning?” he asked after a moment of thought.

Tang Xiaotang replied, “That’s part of it. But if it were only that, it wouldn’t be enough—Senior Sister would want it too.”

“Let’s leave Senior Sister’s thoughts aside for now. After hearing you talk, I’m getting excited,” Lei Jun admitted sincerely.

Tang Xiaotang laughed. “I’m more curious about what you’ll be like once you cross the Bridge of Profound Understanding, especially your shifting and evasion techniques.”

Lei Jun, knowing his own cultivation level best, responded calmly, “It’ll take more time. I need to carefully comprehend the natural order—there’s no avoiding the painstaking effort.”

Tang Xiaotang’s thoughts jumped quickly to another topic: “You’re in the Han Dynasty’s territory now? How’s the Daoist Reform going?”

Lei Jun replied, “Everything’s proceeding steadily. As long as there aren’t any major surprises, it should be fine. But it’ll take consistent effort over time.”

After giving Tang Xiaotang a general update on the situation, he heard her voice become a bit distant:

“After this recent conferment ceremony, will our sect’s branch in the Han Dynasty continue to confer precepts through the Dragon-Tiger Sect Altar?”

Lei Jun replied, “Yes, after a period of stabilization, there’ll be no problem with the Dragon-Tiger Sect Altar.”

From her tone, he immediately knew what Tang Xiaotang was thinking. “If you’re interested, Junior Sister, you can come to the Han Dynasty’s side to preside over the conferment ceremony at the Dragon-Tiger Sect Altar.”

Tang Xiaotang rubbed her hands together, speaking without reservation, “That’s exactly what I had in mind! I figure it’ll be a bit different from the Myriad Laws Sect Altar.”

Lei Jun’s tone remained steady. “Perfect. The next conferment at the Myriad Laws Sect Altar is coming up soon. Junior Sister, why don’t you experience it first, then compare it with the one at the Dragon-Tiger Sect Altar.”

“Two in a row, huh…” Tang Xiaotang paused briefly, then said, “Alright.”

She already knew that her disciple Cheng Rongrong hadn’t yet undergone the conferment, and would be attending the upcoming ceremony at the Myriad Laws Sect Altar.

As a master, Tang Xiaotang wasn’t exactly reliable, but at such a critical moment, she still wanted to personally oversee her only disciple’s initiation.

“Disciple Hua Rong has exceptional talent, but she’s not an ordinary person. She’s the opposite of Baobao’s situation. She might encounter obstacles later, so we’ll need to keep an eye on her,” Lei Jun said.

“Don’t worry, I’ve got it covered.”

Tang Xiaotang was very self-aware. “If I’m not by Rongrong’s side when the time comes, I’ll have to trouble you and the others to look after her.”

Lei Jun replied honestly, “To be honest, Junior Sister, I’m not surprised to hear you say that at all.”

Tang Xiaotang burst out laughing. “No matter what, my taste in picking disciples is pretty good, isn’t it?”

“Indeed, she’s outstanding,” Lei Jun said. “In every way… So, Junior Sister, keep an eye out—one day, don’t let Disciple Hua Rong turn on you. After all, there’s a hidden hand behind the scenes in Kunlun, stirring things up.”

Tang Xiaotang laughed even harder. “Let them come at me!”

So, you’re just assuming your disciple will side with her Senior Uncle against you, huh? Who’s the disciple, and who’s the Senior Sister’s disciple… Lei Jun massaged his forehead.

Later, after ending the conversation with Tang Xiaotang, Lei Jun calmed his thoughts and continued quietly nurturing his own magic power and the Daoist resonance within the Dragon-Tiger Sect Altar.

The Twelve Supreme True Treasure Talismans manifested as twelve orbs of light, hovering silently around him, slowly rotating.

But the Daoist intent within them was already different from before.

These twelve talismans had all been crafted by Daoist Zhou Tian, who had already ascended to the Immortal Realm.

Therefore, for someone like Lei Jun—given his current cultivation, strength, and comprehension—modifying the Daoist essence within the talismans still required time and effort.

Daoist Zhou Tian wasn’t dead and was still alive.

In this situation, Lei Jun, Xu Yuanzhen, and Tang Xiaotang would all need to periodically nurture these talismans anew.

Otherwise, as time passed, even though Daoist Zhou Tian was currently slumbering in the void outside the world, he could still influence the twelve talismans subtly and imperceptibly.

The same applied to the Dragon-Tiger Sect Altar.

At present, the Daoist lineage of the Han Dynasty’s Talisman School was in constant flux, and maintaining stability required the support of both the Sect Altar and the Twelve Supreme True Treasure Talismans.

From Lei Jun’s perspective, as well as that of the Tianshi Mansion in the Great Tang, these twelve talismans were of great value.

Lei Jun beckoned with his hand, and one of the talisman-light orbs drifted over and paused in front of him.

The radiance gradually dissipated, revealing a Divine Talisman crackling with crimson lightning, the red bolts coiling and darting like fiery serpents in all directions.

Lei Jun reached out and gently tapped the surface of the talisman.

The crimson lightning on the talisman’s surface converged around the point he touched.

Gradually, the red lightning seemed to solidify into a towering mountain.

The Nine Heavens Celestial Capital Talisman.

Its power emulated the heavens and the earth, manifesting the Celestial Capital Thunder Ancestor’s divine image, also known as the Celestial Capital Mountain.

It was one of the two great thunder arts once held by the Dragon-Tiger Mountain in the Han Dynasty’s lineage, cultivating the red Celestial Capital Divine Thunder.

This thunder art had been created by Daoist Zhou Tian after studying the talismanic traditions of the Daoist school, drawing insights from the ancient Heavenly Court and innovating upon their celestial thunder techniques.

In terms of raw power, it was majestic and awe-inspiring—truly intimidating.

After years of development, it had become quite refined.

Although their paths were different, Lei Jun had gained much insight from observing it.

He formed a hand seal in front of him.

From his fingertips, strands of crimson divine lightning began to form, snaking out like writhing serpents.

For a short time, the Great Dao Realm of the Second Level in the Ninefold Heavens could temporarily store and recreate the techniques of others, including their divine abilities.

However, such reproductions were temporary and could only manifest within the Great Dao Realm.

After a while, they would fade and become unrecoverable.

While it was useful for studying and gaining inspiration, it wasn’t enough to fully master the original techniques.

The crimson lightning now flickering at Lei Jun’s fingertip was the result of his study of the Nine Heavens Celestial Capital Talisman.

His own innate divine powers were already complete, so he couldn’t make the Celestial Capital Mountain his personal divine image.

Typically, by the time cultivators reached the Upper Three Heavens Realm, they would focus on cultivating a single divine ability—their innate divine image—and then refine it to perfection, delving into its variations and mastering its intricacies.

Cultivators like Lei Jun and Tang Xiaotang, who cultivated multiple divine abilities, were exceedingly rare.

With Lei Jun’s superior divine power and exceptional comprehension, his in-depth study of the Nine Heavens Celestial Capital Talisman could not grant him an additional innate divine image, but he could still gain valuable insights.

However, in a direct confrontation, its power was still inferior to his own innate divine abilities.

Fortunately, Lei Jun had his own reasons for delving into this talisman.

After studying the Nine Heavens Celestial Capital Talisman for some time, Lei Jun waved his hand, dispersing the crimson lightning at his fingertip.

The Celestial Capital Mountain composed of divine thunder before him also vanished.

The talisman reverted into a light orb like the others, silently floating within the Dragon-Tiger Sect Altar.

Lei Jun exited the Sect Altar, his figure rising as he entered the Taiqing Duren Grotto-Heaven above the mountain gate.

Inside the grotto-heaven were disciples of the Dragon-Tiger Mountain’s Tianshi Mansion.

Some were from the Han Dynasty’s side, others from the Great Tang Dynasty’s side.

Ever since the two lineages of the Tianshi Mansion had reunited, the Great Tang’s ancestral sect had been sending outstanding disciples over to the Han Dynasty’s territory one after another.

The Taiqing Duren Grotto-Heaven had become a vital blessed land for the Tianshi Mansion’s cultivation.

Practicing here was no less beneficial than in the Shangqing Thunder Mansion Grotto-Heaven.

For the Tianshi Mansion’s disciples, it was a new reward and opportunity.

Given the vastness of the Taiqing Duren Grotto-Heaven, it could accommodate many more cultivators. Moreover, since it was now under the Great Tang’s Dragon-Tiger Mountain Tianshi Mansion, Lei Jun had, for the initial stage, kept the admission standards relatively loose, allowing more disciples who had never entered before the chance to do so.

Likewise, in the Han Dynasty’s territory, other blessed lands under the Talisman School’s control were in similar situations.

Conversely, for the Han Dynasty’s Dragon-Tiger Mountain lineage, Lei Jun was also selecting outstanding disciples to send over to the Great Tang’s side, granting them access to places like the Xuanyang Residence, or even the Shangqing Thunder Mansion Grotto-Heaven, promoting mutual exchange.

“Master.”

Zhang Jingzhen, who had taken over from Chu Kun as the overseer of the Han Dynasty’s territory, was currently meditating in the Taiqing Duren Grotto-Heaven.

When she saw Lei Jun arrive, Zhang Jingzhen rose and saluted.

The other disciples of the Dragon-Tiger Mountain Tianshi Mansion present also respectfully greeted him, their expressions calm.

“Greetings, Master.”

“At ease,” Lei Jun nodded slightly.

His gaze drifted toward a distant, elegant mountain peak within the Taiqing Duren Grotto-Heaven.

Many blessed lands were located there.

“Is Disciple Hua Rong meditating over there?” Lei Jun asked.

Zhang Jingzhen replied, “Yes. Hua Ju has been meditating on Dao principles and gained some insights. He’s currently in seclusion for further cultivation.”

Lei Jun nodded approvingly. “Hua Ju is gradually accumulating more strength.”

Zhang Jingzhen added, “He still needs to refine his cultivation for a few more years. After that, we can consider helping him break through the Heavenly Rift between the Sixth and Seventh Heavens. The plan is for him to prepare once he returns to the Tang Realm.”

Lei Jun nodded. “That’s a prudent approach. With his solid talent and unyielding will, it won’t take too many years before he has a real shot at the Seventh Heaven.”

Zhang Jingzhen replied, “The Sect Leader is right.”

Lei Jun gave a slight nod. After bidding farewell to Zhang Jingzhen, he strolled through the Taiping Duren Cave Heaven.

As he walked, there was no outward sign of his strength—so much so that even elders of the Fulu Sect like Zhang Jingzhen and Fu Yuzhou, who were at the Eighth Heaven, would see Lei Jun as simply taking a leisurely walk.

What no one in the cave heaven knew was that as Lei Jun moved, faint specks of light radiated from him, drifting outward in all directions.

These lights were so subtle and ethereal that even top-tier experts couldn’t discern them—let alone ordinary cultivators. They scattered silently like dust motes, spreading across the entire Taiping Duren Cave Heaven.

When Lei Jun willed it, the specks began to ripple like water, eventually forming an illusory, unseen river of stars.

He lifted his hand, and as the starlight flowed, the lights vanished completely, as if melting into the void.

Lei Jun quietly watched this scene as if admiring a landscape.

Without any command, a faint, mysterious talisman briefly appeared in the void where the starlight had disappeared—then vanished in an instant.

Lei Jun gave a slight nod and left the Taiping Duren Cave Heaven.

He returned to the Tianshi Altar at Longhu Sect, continuing his usual cultivation and daily routine.

Later, when Lei Jun checked the calendar, he realized the New Year in the Tang Realm was approaching.

Zhang Jingzhen exited the Taiping Duren Cave Heaven, taking Lei Jun’s place as the presiding elder at the Longhu Sect’s Tianshi Altar in the Han Realm.

After bidding farewell to Ma Zongxiang, Fu Yuzhou, and the others, Zhang Jingzhen left the mountain and returned to the Tang Realm.

In the Tang Realm, preparations for the New Year Grand Ceremony and the Ordination Ceremony were underway.

Upon his return, Lei Jun first visited his master, Yuan Mobai, and fellow disciples like Chu Kun.

As the Tianshi, Lei Jun had many responsibilities, but thanks to the growing number of senior elders in the sect, many duties had already been delegated.

Even when Lei Jun wasn’t in the Tang Realm, the Longhu Sect’s Tianshi Altar cultivators could communicate with him through multiple “Heavenly Sight and Earth Hearing Talismans” that transmitted messages across realms.

As such, Lei Jun’s return was smooth, with no lingering issues or backlogs from his time away.

When some elders came to pay their respects, Lei Jun was quite pleased.

“Congratulations, Senior Brother Luo. Congratulations, Senior Brother Fang.”

Luo Haoran and Fang Jian came together to report to Tianshi Lei Jun. Both still wore their dark red Daoist robes, but Lei Jun already knew:

In the past year, Luo Haoran and Fang Jian had both overcome the Heavenly Rift between the Sixth and Seventh Heavens, achieving the Tongtian Realm.

This marked the addition of two new high-ranking elders in the Longhu Sect’s Tianshi Altar lineage.

Luo Haoran and Fang Jian hadn’t yet donned purple robes because Lei Jun hadn’t been in the Tang Realm to formally confer the title.

Now that Lei Jun had returned for the New Year, it had been decided that at the Grand Ceremony, he would officially present them with their purple robes.

“We finally crossed the last hurdle,” Fang Jian said with a smile. “If we were in the mundane world, we’d already be old men by now. It’s thanks to the Sect Leader, Eldest Senior Sister, Junior Sister Tang, and everyone else for creating the right opportunities and environment for the disciples.”

He felt deeply grateful.

Luo Haoran and Fang Jian were both nearing a hundred years old—a pivotal stage for Middle Heaven cultivators.

Breaking through to the Upper Heaven realm before a hundred was crucial; after that, the chances dwindled significantly, and further breakthroughs toward the Seventh Heaven and beyond would become much harder.

Reaching the Seventh Heaven within a hundred years meant they’d still be in their prime window for cultivation up to around two hundred years of age.

Barring major accidents, the Seventh Heaven wouldn’t be their final stop—they had the potential to ascend even higher.

Luo Haoran remained composed.

Lei Jun smiled at him. “I heard you crossed the threshold last summer, Senior Brother Luo, and even went to the Great River afterward?”

Luo Haoran nodded. “The flooding along the Great River has been resurging these past two years, though it’s still manageable. I went early to reinforce the defenses as a precaution.”

Due to the spiritual energy tides and the aftermath of many great wars in the Tang Realm, the natural geography had shifted, leading to an increase in natural disasters.

Luo Haoran had long vowed to combat water disasters, hoping that one day, with his cultivation in the Upper Heavens, he could make a greater difference.

Over the years, he had worked tirelessly toward this goal, and now there was no need to say more.

With it being winter, there was no immediate concern, but come summer, he would leave the mountain again to attend to the Great River’s flood defenses.

Lei Jun had known of Luo Haoran’s aspirations since he first joined the sect decades ago. Now, nearly seventy years had passed, and the memories came flooding back as Luo Haoran sat beside him.

At the New Year Grand Ceremony, Lei Jun formally conferred talismans upon Luo Haoran and Fang Jian.

They also chose their first innate divine techniques.

Fang Jian, during his Middle Heaven stage, had cultivated the sect’s core “Five Thunder True Talisman” and Lei Jun’s self-created “Yin Five Thunder True Talisman.”

Now that he had reached the Upper Heaven, it was no surprise he chose the “Nine Heavens Thunder Ancestor Manifestation” from the Thunder Scripture Talisman lineage as his first innate divine technique.

Luo Haoran, on the other hand, selected the “Nine Abyss Flame Ancestor Manifestation” from the Earth Scripture Talisman lineage.

While the Nine Abyss True Fire lacked the sheer destructive power of the Nine Heavens Divine Thunder in combat, it was invaluable for drawing earth fire, connecting with the earth’s ley lines, alchemy, and crafting.

Back when the Li Clan of Xinzou still guarded the Thunder Scripture Talisman lineage, Luo Haoran had already resolved to cultivate this divine technique once he reached the Upper Heaven.

For today’s Longhu Sect Tianshi Altar disciples, choosing an innate divine technique no longer carried special restrictions—they could freely select based on their strengths and interests.

Lei Jun discussed this with his master Yuan Mobai, who remarked with emotion, “It’s truly a joyous occasion that Senior Brother Luo and Senior Brother Fang have both reached the Seventh Heaven.”

Lei Jun nodded slightly.

A trace of reminiscence flickered in Yuan Mobai’s eyes.

Lei Jun could roughly guess his master’s thoughts.

The previous generation of direct disciples under Grandmaster Li Qingfeng—including the late Li Zhengxuan—had all successfully crossed the threshold from the Sixth to the Seventh Heaven.

Except for Li Zhengxuan, who had perished, Zhang Jingzhen and Fang Jian had both become pillars of the sect.

As for Xu Yuanzhen, there was no need to elaborate.

“Besides Senior Brother Luo and Senior Brother Fang, both Junior Nephew Huayuan and Junior Nephew Huaju have reached the Sixth Heaven Dao Seal realm, and they’re on the rise.” Lei Jun smiled.

Yuan Mobai’s expression softened. “They’ll need more time to accumulate strength, but barring unforeseen circumstances, they too are promising talents of the next generation.”

Ever since Qin Caiwei and Xu Rui had broken through, the most rapidly rising talents in the current generation of the sect were Zhang Xiongju, who was with Zhang Jingzhen in the Jin-Han Realm, and Xin Beiyuan.

Xin Beiyuan’s momentum was even stronger, and he was likely the next potential candidate to challenge the Seventh Heaven.

Han Xiaofei and Cheng Rongrong had greater innate talent, but they had joined later, so there was no rush for them yet.

“How’s Huayuan’s Senluo Celestial Body preparation coming along?” Yuan Mobai asked thoughtfully.

Lei Jun replied, “Following the ancestral method passed down, there’s about a 60% chance now. With another rare treasure, Huayuan’s Myriad Forms Sacred Body foundation could be enhanced to the Senluo Celestial Body.”

Yuan Mobai nodded slightly. “Sooner is better, but ultimately, it’s about aligning with destiny.”

“Master is right,” Lei Jun agreed.

Not long after the New Year Grand Ceremony, the Ordination Ceremony was held on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month.

By the same time next year, it would be time for the next Talisman Conferment Ceremony.

Lei Jun presided over this year’s Ordination Ceremony. Once the sect’s affairs were settled, he retreated into the Shangqing Thunder Palace Cave Heaven.

Passing through its various wondrous sites, he arrived at the heart of the cave heaven: the Biyou Celestial Mountain.

Overhead, vast violet thunderclouds surged like a sea of thunder.

Lei Jun stood atop the mountain’s peak.

Once again, illusory, countless specks of light began emanating from him, spreading like a vast starry sea.

These specks condensed into an undetectable river of starlight, then surged and faintly coalesced into a colossal talisman.

The talisman flickered once in midair—then vanished.

The Shangqing Thunder Palace Cave Heaven began to change.

In Lei Jun’s perception, the Shangqing Thunder Palace in the Tang Realm and the Taiping Duren Cave Heaven in the Jin-Han Realm seemed to resonate with each other.

This was just the beginning.

As the two cave heavens resonated, an unseen force extended into the void, seeking another cave heaven—

The Yuqing Miluo Cave Heaven.

Blind searching was fruitless.

Lei Jun focused on the Jin Dynasties Realm.

He had visited there before and left behind his arrangements.

Now, he went a step further to help the Shangqing Thunder Palace and the Taiping Duren Cave Heaven locate the Yuqing Miluo Cave Heaven.

In the Jin Dynasties Realm, a sword light suddenly flashed across the heavens.

The sword light paused, revealing a young man in plain Daoist robes.

It was none other than Shen Xi, the current head of the Shu Mountain Sect in Southern Jin.

He hadn’t forgotten his promise.

During this time, he had been helping the Longhu Sect’s Tianshi Altar search for the Yuqing Miluo Cave Heaven.

Now, Shen Xi suddenly sensed a disturbance in the world around him.