Seeking Fortune and Avoiding Misfortune: Starting from the Celestial Master’s Mansion
Chapter 453: A Place More Familiar Than Home

"Xumi and Saha?" Tang Xiaotang's eyebrows gradually arched upward.

Lei Jun: "We can't say for sure, but it's likely to be one of the two."

"If we ask them, of course they won’t admit it that easily," Tang Xiaotang said, her eyes lighting up. "Otherwise, let’s just charge in like we did with Kunlun!"

Lei Jun replied, "The situation with Kunlun and Daoist Zhou Tian was a bit special."

Daoist Zhou Tian had deep ties with the ancient Talisman Sect and the remnants of the Heavenly Palace.

Not to mention, Lei Jun had used the Sky-Sealing Seal to whack him hard right on the spot.

After that battle, Xu Yuanzhen's Mortal World Sword vanished, but Lei Jun’s Sky-Sealing Seal remained intact.

But using the same method against Venerable Shanzhihui and Venerable Puguang might not work this time.

Back then, Kunlun wasn’t fully under Daoist Zhou Tian’s control.

Even when Zhao Chanyang of the Kunwu Sect achieved ascension and returned, or during his time away in seclusion in the outer void before his ascension, Daoist Zhou Tian never completely held Kunlun in his grasp.

Although Daoist Baimei left Kunlun’s Great Red Heaven behind without even a speck of alchemy furnace ash, her invisible influence over Kunlun was deeper than most had expected.

Strictly speaking, she no longer had any real authority there.

But it was like that old saying:

More capable of messing things up than making them right.

As the founding ancestor of the Shushan Sect, she never laid claim to Kunlun, but if anyone else dared to try, their success would hinge on her mood.

Unlike Zhou Tian’s shaky hold over Kunlun, Venerable Shanzhihui and Venerable Puguang held absolute home-field advantage in Xumi and Saha respectively, with the power of the Immortal Realm behind them.

What’s more, with Zhou Tian's failure serving as a warning, Venerable Shanzhihui would naturally be even more vigilant.

Lei Jun said, “Senior Sister, going into Xumi now is totally different from our first time.”

Tang Xiaotang: “Well, we’re totally different from back then too.”

Lei Jun nodded. “True. Especially with His Majesty the Tang Emperor having attained sainthood, and both Senior Sister and you now having crossed the Bridge of Mysteries.”

“However, Xumi may also have new reinforcements now. The situation with Golden Khan Ongqinfu and that Kunpeng demon saint in Guixu remains unclear, and we have very limited intel.”

Ongqinfu was forced into slumber in the outer void, making contact with the human realm difficult.

Not that the Golden Khanate of the former Song couldn’t reach him, but the uncertainties were too great.

If that weren’t the case, the Canglang Khanate and the Song loyalists wouldn’t be so suppressed by the Golden Khanate.

“If the three factions were working that closely together, why haven’t they attacked us or Saha first?” Tang Xiaotang asked after a moment.

Lei Jun: “Venerables Shanzhihui and Kunpeng wouldn’t easily leave Xumi or Guixu. They’d worry about their home turf and may have other concerns, preventing them from committing fully to an offensive.

If they’re defending, though, it might trigger a chain reaction of mutual survival concerns.”

He spread his hands. “Of course, even if Xumi is attacked, that doesn’t mean Ongqinfu or the Kunpeng will definitely come to help. But if we do take action, we’ll need to factor that in.”

“You sound just like Senior Brother Wang!” Tang Xiaotang puffed out her cheeks.

Lei Jun chuckled. “I don’t disagree with Senior Brother’s logic. I just lack his depth of cultivation.

If we include our sect, and if the entire Tang Daoist world attacked in full force, the result wouldn’t be trivial.

But first, we’d need to guard against others taking advantage of our rear lines. And second, with a conflict on that scale, predicting the outcome would be tough at this stage.

If, besides His Majesty, both Senior and Junior Sister attain the Immortal Realm, that’d be a different story.”

“The situation in Saha is pretty much the same.”

Venerable Puguang didn’t seem to form as many alliances as Shanzhihui.

But Saha was unique.

In Buddhist terms, the Saha World, also called the World of Endurance, symbolizes sentient beings dwelling in realms of vice, unwilling to transcend—one of the Five Defiled Realms, opposite of the Pure Lands.

For generations, Buddhist cultivators created sanctified domains within this world using the subtle resonance of Dharma, isolating the “Pure Land” within and pushing the defiled lands outward—forming what’s called the Land of Endurance, which now seals off Saha, one of the Nine Heavens.

Though connected by void portals to the human world, the accumulated force of endurance over millennia makes Saha one of the most impenetrable realms—enough to stymie even Immortal-level cultivators unless multiple forces combine.

“If not for that, during the Penglai incident when ‘Yan Keji’s’ identity was revealed, Senior Sister would’ve gone straight into Saha to take a look.”

Lei Jun added, “She’s been researching it for years, but most of her energy went into Kunlun and Daoist Zhou Tian.

Now that Kunlun’s been resolved, she’s probably back to focusing on Venerable Puguang and Saha.”

Tang Xiaotang’s eyes sparkled. “So, once I ascend to Immortality, everything gets easier, right?”

Lei Jun replied calmly, “Naturally.”

Tang Xiaotang rubbed her fists together. “Excellent!”

Lei Jun reminded, “Don’t forget, Junior Disciple Hua Rong is about to receive the Daoist register.”

Tang Xiaotang waved it off casually.

Lei Jun shook his head with a smile.

He stayed behind in Penglai, using the Jade Purity Celestial Mirror to observe the world while silently accumulating his Seven Radiances of Pure Vitality.

At the same time, he pondered the mysteries of the Taiqing Salvation Grotto-Heaven and the Shangqing Thunder Grotto-Heaven, seeking another route to bypass the barrier set by the Great Jin Mountains and Rivers Map, and locate the Jade Purity Grand Net Grotto-Heaven.

Xumi.

The Treasure Division Lord Fandato and the Karma Division Lord Jadiluo were both seated at the foot of Mount Xumi.

Their gazes were fixed toward the east.

There, faint cyan Buddha light surged and glimmered.

One of the Five Divisions of the Xumi Vajra Realm, the Blissful Land under the Vajra Division, had now been rebuilt.

However, it was far from its former glory.

“The Venerable emerged from seclusion and used the Eye of the Buddha Division to reestablish the Mother Mandala of the Vajra Paramita Bodhisattvas. At least the Blissful Land has reappeared,” Fandato said with a soft sigh. “It’s a pity that the Aksobhya Elephant Throne and the Five-Pronged Vajra Scepter haven’t had time to be reforged.”

Jadiluo shook his head. “Recrafting such Buddhist treasures not only requires the Venerable’s immense powers but also rare heavenly materials and earthly treasures. It can’t be rushed.”

At this point, both men showed faintly somber expressions.

It wasn’t just the Aksobhya Elephant Throne and the Five-Pronged Vajra Scepter from the Vajra Division that were lost.

To the west, in the Lotus Division, the Amitabha Peacock Throne and the Single-Pronged Vajra Scepter had also vanished with Division Lord Zongga. Xumi hadn’t seen them since.

Fortunately, the Mother Mandala of the Dharma Paramita Bodhisattvas still resided within Xumi.

As long as the Central Eye of the Buddha and the Four Great Bodhisattva Mother Mandalas of the Five Pure Lands remained intact, the foundation of the Xumi Vajra Realm’s Five Divisions was stable, ensuring the continuity of their legacy.

While the Lotus Division was doing alright, the Vajra Division had suffered devastating losses in the past.

From top to bottom, it had nearly been wiped out.

“It’s been roughly twenty years now,” Jadiluo sighed. “Still not enough.”

Even though Venerable Shanzhihui had emerged from seclusion, it would take time to restore the Vajra Division to its former state.

They had to rebuild nearly from scratch.

The initiation methods of Xumi’s Buddhist sects were profound, but they did not emerge from nothing.

After twenty years of slow recovery, the Vajra Division had only managed to train a group of lower- and mid-level disciples. There were very few high-level experts.

“If only Luochi had survived…” Fandato shook his head lightly.

Jadiluo remained silent. Saying anything now would be like rubbing salt into a wound.

Back when people from Tianshi Mansion on Mount Longhu stormed into Xumi, it was Fandato who had been in charge of defending it.

Unfortunately, he had to prioritize reinforcing the seal on Mount Xumi at the time—and arrived just a moment too late.

That moment cost the entire Blissful Land of the Vajra Division nearly all its lives.

Master Luochi, the prized disciple of then-Division Lord Jialuotu, was at the eighth realm, but had been the most outstanding young talent of the Vajra Division.

If he hadn’t perished in that battle, he would’ve likely cultivated a Buddhist Dharmakaya by now and stepped into the ninth realm.

With him leading the effort, rebuilding the Vajra Division would have been far easier.

But after that one line, Fandato said no more. If Luochi had survived, the situation back then wouldn’t have been so dire, nor would the division have come so close to annihilation.

As the two men spoke, a figure approached from the distance.

The person had a dignified aura and youthful appearance—none other than Vimasha, Lord of the Buddha Division of Xumi.

Fandato and Jadiluo both formed mudras and saluted. “Senior Brother.”

Vimasha returned the salute and asked, “Any word from Golden Khan?”

Fandato shook his head. “Not yet. But Hasen and the Golden Khanate have begun preparing for the first stage of the westward campaign.”

Jadiluo nodded. “I’ll go meet the Venerable.”

---

Human Realm of the Former Song Dynasty.

Capital of the Golden Khanate.

Inside a palace marked by distinctly Han-style architecture, a group of people gathered.

Three stood out.

Two were tall, youthful men.

One wore splendid robes, with qi and blood like blazing sunlight.

The other wore Buddhist robes with red lining. Though his ethnic features showed he wasn’t Han, he radiated benevolence and composure.

The first was Arsilang, eldest son of Golden Khan Ongqinfu, a martial sage of foreign blood.

The second was Master Hasen, also of foreign origin but initiated into the Xumi Lotus Division, having succeeded Zongga as its leader.

But right now, both of them, along with the others present, stood before a woman.

A tall woman whose physical presence rivaled Arsilang’s, if not surpassed it—overflowing with qi and blood like a furnace.

She was Haritana, second strongest in the Golden Khanate after Ongqinfu since his ascension.

Speaking to Arsilang, she said plainly, “For this westward campaign, Arata will accompany us. We leave Dadu in your care.”

Arsilang nodded. “Understood.”

Arata—once the mount of Ongqinfu—was a fierce tiger demon, rivaling a peak-stage human cultivator at the fifth level of the ninth realm.

If one didn’t count species limits, Arata could be considered the second strongest in the Khanate.

Because of their shared path in martial cultivation, Ongqinfu’s breakthrough to Martial Immortal status had significantly benefited Arata too.

Arata had been reclusive for years, but now, for the sake of this crucial campaign, it had agreed to emerge.

Their target: the Canglang Khanate.

Arata, the ferocious demon tiger, was out for blood.

“When you gain ground in the west, we’ll launch our southern campaign,” Arsilang said.

Haritana and Master Hasen nodded. “Exactly.”

With many top experts from the Golden Khanate and Xumi Lotus Division, they set off from the capital.

Accompanied by an earth-shaking roar.

Haritana and Hasen looked up at the sky above:

They hoped they would hear back from the Great Khan soon.

Before this, the Golden Khanate and the Canglang Khanate had clashed many times.

But this time, the pressure was palpably greater.

For now, only Zholigetu, the Canglang Khan, could stand up to Arata.

Yet even he hesitated to fight, wary of the unknown movements of Ongqinfu.

So when Arata charged, the Canglang Khanate scattered and retreated.

Haritana and Hasen took advantage, chasing them ever deeper beyond the desert.

News of this reached the old Song lands, causing a stir.

The remnants of the Song Dynasty were pleased to see foreign factions tearing each other apart.

But Arata’s departure from the capital also left Song loyalists like Zhu Junjie uneasy.

“Khan Ongqinfu might be planning something big. We can’t lower our guard,” Zhu Junjie warned.

A middle-aged Daoist in black and white robes, dressed in Pure Yang Palace tradition, asked softly, “Since the destruction of Youluo Valley near Jingxiang, has the Void Portal to Dihai appeared again?”

Zhu Junjie shook his head. “I checked recently. There’s been no reopening. Not just Dihai—even Kongsang and Yellow Springs haven’t reappeared.”

Everyone’s expression darkened.

Zhu Junjie turned to the elder. “Can your sect get in touch with Elder Zheng?”

The elder sighed. “He left word before closing himself off, but no one knows where he is. We can’t reach him.”

And the mood in the room grew heavier still.

Lei Jun, stationed at Penglai’s Skywatch Terrace, used the Jade Purity Celestial Mirror to observe the worlds beyond.

When he saw that the tiger demon Arata had left the Golden Khanate capital and was leading the western campaign, pushing back the Canglang Khanate forces, he fell into thought.

After a while, he steadied his mind and returned to his cultivation.

His Seven Radiances of Pure Vitality continued to accumulate—not growing denser, but becoming increasingly sharp and piercing.

Alongside this, his cultivation at the fourth level of the Ninth Realm steadily advanced.

Then one day, his junior brother Chu Kun came to see him. “Senior Brother, there’s something I want to talk to you about.”

Lei Jun: “What is it?”

“I want to invite you… to go somewhere with me…”

Chu Kun spoke gravely, “...a world beyond the human realm!”

Lei Jun showed no surprise and offered no resistance. He looked straight at Chu Kun: “If you think it’s necessary, I’m always ready. Does Master know?”

Chu Kun nodded. “He knows. He’s staying to guard the ancestral mountain gate and told me to inform you and Senior Sister Tang. But that place—I can only take one person with me each time.”

Lei Jun: “Daju? Lianshan? Canghuan? Youyin?”

Of the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, most had already revealed themselves.

Bilu, Xumi, Saha, Kunlun, Penglai, Datong, Guizang, Lingshan, and Canghuan—together formed the Nine Heavens.

Youyin, Dihai, Yellow Springs, Wujian, Luoyuan, Kongsang, Lianshan, Guixu, Dahuang, Daju—formed the Ten Earths.

Among them, Penglai, Datong, Guizang, and Yellow Springs were all under the control of the Tang Daoist world.

Kunlun, Wujian, Luoyuan, and Dihai had also been visited by Lei Jun and his group.

Bilu, Xumi, Saha, Guixu, and Kongsang were known to be controlled by Immortal-realm powerhouses.

Meanwhile, Lingshan, long opposed to Saha’s Buddhist sects in the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms, likely housed an Immortal-rank Witch King.

Dahuang was once the cradle of foreign powers in the former Song human realm—but Golden Khan Ongqinfu had chosen to sleep in the outer void rather than return there, possibly because it had truly become a wasteland—at least for now.

That narrowed down the places Chu Kun might be referring to—Daju, Lianshan, Canghuan, or Youyin.

Of course, there was a slim chance it could be somewhere else entirely.

“Honestly, I know that place better than my own ancestral home,” Chu Kun said, taking a deep breath before slowly letting it out. “But I still can’t say for sure which world it is.”

“There are native inhabitants,” he continued. “They call their lands Liuyan Nation and Jinghai Nation, and refer to the world itself as Shenzhou. But from my observations, it doesn’t seem like a divergent human realm from the late Han Dynasty.”

“It feels more like one of the Nine Heavens or Ten Earths, yet I can’t find a match in any of our records or texts.”

Lei Jun patted his shoulder. “Junior Brother, you really are an onion at heart—layers and all. Senior Brother Wang would be so proud.”

“Can’t compare to him.” Chu Kun offered a modest smile, then went on, “About ten years ago, the place started changing. And in recent years, it’s gotten more and more noticeable. It’s not that the changes are bad for me—but I don’t fully understand them, and that makes me uneasy.”

Since the topic was now laid out, Lei Jun asked directly, “Is that why you suddenly ended up in the Ming human realm back then?”

Chu Kun gave a bitter smile. “Just a fluke. I corrected it afterward. But who knows what new changes might occur?”

Lei Jun raised an eyebrow. “Now that’s interesting. Let’s go check it out together.”

He made some preparations first, then signaled to Chu Kun that he was ready.

Chu Kun raised both hands—one finger pointing to Lei Jun’s forehead, the other pressing gently on his own—and tapped lightly.

At once, Lei Jun felt light swirl before his eyes, and an invisible force began pulling him across the void.

All the preparation he’d done earlier came into play in this moment.

Far away in the Yuyu Heaven Daoist Palace atop Kunlun, Xu Yuanzhen, seated cross-legged, watched the floating stone blade before her shimmer and tremble with light.

With a flick of her hand, she activated a Heaven-Eye Earth-Ear Talisman and sent a message to Lei Jun:

“Daju.”