Seeking Fortune and Avoiding Misfortune: Starting from the Celestial Master’s Mansion
Chapter 46: ​​Move forward towards the Water Marrow Yin Fish!

Lei Jun glanced at Xu Yuanzhen and Yuan Mobai. "If the three spiritual treasures are merged, how much improvement can they bring?"

Yuan Mobai replied, "It's akin to advancing your cultivation realm; the higher it is, the harder it becomes to improve bone structure and comprehension. Chongyun, your comprehension is already superior, reaching the upper grade. Naturally, further improvement won't come easily. However, the spiritual nature of these three items is quite abundant. When they fuse and integrate, reaching illumination might be uncertain, but achieving exceptional comprehension shouldn’t be difficult."

Xu Yuanzhen erased her drawing with a wave of her hand and stood to leave. "Master remains in seclusion. I'll head out for another journey."

She waved to Lei Jun. "As always, if I’m not back by the time you reach the Third Heaven, make sure to sketch out everyone's expressions for me. I'll review them when I return."

Lei Jun grinned. "Senior Sister, I'm just a plain and honest man who doesn't care for fame."

Xu Yuanzhen rolled her eyes. "Cut it out. You're sly, plain and simple."

Lei Jun laughed. "I genuinely want to be a good person."

Xu Yuanzhen quipped, "What’s stopping you?"

Lei Jun glanced at her meaningfully. On some level, Xu Yuanzhen and Yuan Mobai often played a routine of alternating roles—one as the disciplinarian and the other as the pacifier. The difference was, Xu Yuanzhen genuinely enjoyed being the one to offend others.

"So, Senior Sister, does that mean you like playing the villain?" Lei Jun asked.

Xu Yuanzhen paused mid-step, standing beside him. "One shouldn't concern themselves with the criticism of others, but... I must admit, sometimes I can’t help it."

Her words carried a rare touch of self-reflection, but Lei Jun caught the faint smirk tugging at the corners of her lips.

"...and occasionally, I find it quite enjoyable," she concluded before striding away.

Lei Jun turned to Yuan Mobai. "Master, I still think I’m an honest, unassuming man."

Yuan Mobai shook his head, chuckling. "Now I see why you two get along so well."

Despite the lighthearted exchange, the Initiation Ceremony had concluded, and Lei Jun fully devoted himself to cultivation once more. Personal growth, after all, ultimately depended on his own efforts.

The Unaccomplished Cauldron was temporarily shelved; its real potential would only manifest once the Yin-Yang Fishes were united. Until then, Lei Jun relied on resources allocated by the Tianshi Mansion and the assistance of the Fire Marrow Yangfish and Blue Stone Ink to accelerate his progress.

In the Dao Foundation Altar, Lei Jun established the virtual Six Halls. Following the earlier creation of the Chanting Hall, Refinement Hall, and Universal Alms Hall, Lei Jun began constructing the fourth hall: the Silent Reflection Hall.

In cultivation, the virtual Silent Reflection Hall primarily aided practitioners in calming their minds, steadying their qi, and harmonizing their spirit, making cultivation smoother. After completing this, the next targets were the Tiger Spirit Hall and the Initiation Hall.

In reality, these halls served distinct ceremonial purposes: the Tiger Spirit Hall presided over the drawing of talismans and summoning of spirits, while the Initiation Hall honored ancestral spirits. In cultivation, the virtual versions of these halls enhanced talisman creation and mastery over spiritual energy. However, their full benefits only became evident once all six halls were established, marking the perfection of the Foundation Stage. As such, there was no rush to set them up.

Yuan Mobai's teaching methods were rigorously traditional. Both Wang Guiyuan before and Lei Jun now followed the orthodox progression: Chanting Hall, Silent Reflection Hall, followed by Refinement Hall and Universal Alms Hall, and finally the Tiger Spirit Hall and Initiation Hall. Lei Jun, however, had prioritized the Refinement Hall and Universal Alms Hall to nurture his "fish." Even so, he stayed on the conventional path overall.

Time passed unnoticed in the mountains. Immersed in focused cultivation, a year went by in a blink.

A New Journey

Shortly after the New Year, Yuan Mobai brought good news. "Chongyun, there's a message from your Senior Niece, Yuanzhen. During her travels north of Xunjiang, she discovered several cold springs in the mountain range. They're showing signs of spiritual emergence. Although still weak, in time they may nurture genuine Water Marrow Yinfish. We should start preparations early."

Lei Jun was delighted. The emergence of Water Marrow Yinfish greatly increased his chances of balancing Yin and Yang to improve his comprehension. Though Xu Yuanzhen had a stern demeanor, her reliability was unquestionable.

"To the north of Xunjiang and east of the Great Swamp lies the Yunxiao Range. Our sect's affiliated branch, the Zixiao Sect, has a presence there. We'll head straight to their location," Yuan Mobai instructed.

"Understood, Master," Lei Jun replied.

Disciples who received initiation at the Tianshi Mansion could either continue their cultivation at Mount Longhu or choose to journey outward, establishing their own branches to spread the lineage. Those who established new sects often had followers, whether disciples initiated under their own tutelage or others who sought permission to join them. Over time, many talisman-focused Daoist sects emerged from this tradition, all tracing their origins back to Mount Longhu as the sacred ancestral court. The Zixiao Sect was one such branch.

Yuan Mobai and Lei Jun promptly began preparations for their departure. Wang Guiyuan, who had been assisting Elder Liu as an "apprentice," returned briefly to bid them farewell and assist with packing. He even procured additional resources for Lei Jun to take along.

"Senior Brother, what's this?" Lei Jun asked, pointing to a second set of supplies after storing the first. "Master shouldn’t need these basic items."

Wang Guiyuan smiled. "When traveling, it's better to overprepare than underprepare. This second set is a backup."

"And this third set?" Lei Jun asked skeptically.

"That's the backup's backup," Wang Guiyuan replied without missing a beat.

"...Do we have a backup for the backup's backup?"

"If you were traveling to more distant regions, perhaps. But the Yunxiao Range is still within our sect’s sphere of influence, so this should suffice."

"Fair enough, Senior Brother," Lei Jun conceded.

Thanks to their Cloud Carriage, transportation was not a concern. While Yuan Mobai commented on Wang Guiyuan's "excessive preparation," he ultimately said nothing more.

The two departed from Mount Longhu, heading north by cloud. Their first stop was the Zixiao Sect, where they were welcomed with hospitality. After a brief stay, they continued toward Qingxiao Mountain, the specific area Xu Yuanzhen had mentioned, located east of the Yunxiao Range.

This journey, officially led by Yuan Mobai, was framed as a casual excursion to observe different landscapes and refine his mind in tranquil surroundings. To outsiders, Lei Jun appeared to be nothing more than a young Daoist apprentice accompanying his master.

At Qingxiao Mountain, they stayed at Qingxiao Temple, an outpost established by the Zixiao Sect. Over the centuries, the Zixiao Sect had expanded throughout the Yunxiao Range, establishing smaller branches like Qingxiao Temple near Qingxiao Lake.

A Daoist temple was typically overseen by three key figures: the Temple Master, the High Seat, and the Discipline Overseer. The Temple Master managed overall affairs, while the other two served as deputies, akin to vice masters.

At Qingxiao Temple, Lei Jun and Yuan Mobai encountered two of these figures. The Temple Master, Lu Zhaoqing, was a genuine Tianshi Mansion true disciple who had once cultivated with the Zixiao Sect before taking charge of Qingxiao Temple. With his white hair, youthful complexion, and aura of wisdom, he perfectly embodied the image of an enlightened Daoist master.

The second figure was Qin Tao, the Discipline Overseer. Though a disciple of the Zixiao Sect, he addressed Lei Jun as a fellow disciple, recognizing their shared lineage.

"Brother Lu, thank you for hosting us," Yuan Mobai greeted Lu Zhaoqing respectfully.