Seeking Fortune and Avoiding Misfortune: Starting from the Celestial Master’s Mansion
Chapter 475: Plucking Wool from the Same Sheep

"When the human realms merge, Venerable Puguang and your master, Daoist Zhou Tian, will both be able to move freely in the mortal world without constraints," Master Baoneng said slowly. "This would naturally be beneficial, but... the implications of merging the human realms are likely to be far-reaching."

Cen Ruopu replied, "Before you two eminent monks, I shall speak truthfully. The losses suffered by both our sides after the disappearances of Kunlun, the Saha World, and Sumeru have been devastating. Apart from the rebellious disciples of the Celestial Master Mansion who disrespect their ancestors and the undeniable strength of Emperor Tang, another major reason is their frequent cooperation and ease of movement between them.

"Meanwhile, my master and Venerable Puguang were caught off guard by their schemes, leaving them vulnerable. At this critical juncture, even if our sides—including Kongsang and the Abyssal Border—cannot unite as one, simply removing barriers to communication would drastically improve our situation. Unlike before, when we were constantly constrained."

After a brief pause, he continued, "Moreover, the longer we delay, the more unpredictable the situation becomes. Merging the human realms sooner rather than later is imperative. I believe Venerable Puguang and Venerable Shanzhihui of Kongsang share this judgment, which is why they accelerated the surge of spiritual energy between the two Jin realms..."

Though his words were veiled, Master Baoneng and Master Duming understood his meaning clearly: Xu Yuanzhen, Tang Xiaotang, and Lei Jun were all rising at an alarming rate. Even now, their strength posed a significant challenge. If they successfully pushed open the Immortal Gate and ascended, the consequences would be unthinkable—even for Venerable Puguang.

Emperor Tang Zhang Wantong was proof enough of this.

The problem was, their side lacked such figures.

The Saha World once had the prodigious Zen Master Chonghui, whose talent in Buddhism was second only to Venerable Puguang within the Thunderclap Monastery. He had perfected his ninth-layer Dharmakaya and was half a step away from attaining the Buddhist Golden Body, surpassing both Master Baoneng and Master Duming.

Venerable Puguang had negotiated with Venerable Shanzhihui to obtain the Green Lotus Throne, intending to transform it into the Immovable Vajra Lotus Throne. With it, Chonghui could have taken that final step and become the second Golden Body Venerable in the Saha World.

The ancient talisman tradition that Daoist Zhou Tian and Cen Ruopu hailed from also once had a top-tier prodigy who could challenge the Immortal Realm—Xiang Jing, the former Crown Prince of the Han Dynasty. Though he followed the Witch Sect’s path, with Zhou Tian’s help, he could have ascended further.

Yet Xiang Jing had perished even earlier.

As for Venerable Shanzhihui’s disciples, rumors suggested that the head of the Buddha Division, Vairochana, possessed profound cultivation and potential for advancement. But for various reasons, there had been no movement on that front.

The Golden Khan Ongqinfu had succeeded, rising from a ninth-layer Martial Saint to a Martial Immortal beyond the ninth layer. But he too had fallen in the Yellow Springs.

Among those remaining, Master Duming knew of only one potential candidate—his old rival, Witch Zhen Jia Xianting.

But none of them could compare to the dazzling brilliance of the three Five Qi Converging Grandmasters from the Celestial Master Mansion of Mount Longhu.

Time was on the Tang Dynasty’s side.

Master Duming remained silent, while Master Baoneng said slowly, "Your words are not wrong, Daoist. Sooner or later, the human realms will merge. However, the impact of this merger extends far beyond just our two factions."

He looked directly at Cen Ruopu. "As you mentioned earlier—the Azure Heaven and the Great Square."

Cen Ruopu’s expression remained unchanged. "Indeed. The effects on the Great Square remain uncertain, but the Azure Heaven will reopen."

Master Baoneng and Master Duming, usually unshakable in their spiritual calm, felt a ripple of disturbance.

Cen Ruopu said frankly, "It seems Venerable Puguang was aware of this long ago and has informed you both. Correct—among the former subordinates of the Heavenly Palace, there are multiple experts currently within the Azure Heaven. The exact situation inside remains unknown, but its reopening would be beneficial to the current mortal world.

"Unfortunately, the Celestial Master Mansion has been tainted by rebellious disciples, and the signs from the former Human Dao Kingdom indicate they are irreconcilable with the Heavenly Palace’s remnants."

Master Baoneng nodded slightly, though inwardly he disagreed.

Though Venerable Puguang could not yet confirm it with absolute certainty, the Thunderclap Monastery had long suspected that Daoist Zhou Tian himself might be one of the Heavenly Palace’s remnants.

If the Azure Heaven reopened and other powerful figures from the Heavenly Palace returned, it would be disastrous not only for the Tang Dynasty and the Celestial Master Mansion but also for the Thunderclap Monastery and the Buddhist sects of Kongsang.

Cen Ruopu’s frank admission carried an implicit message that the two monks understood all too well.

The situation had deteriorated to such a point that their remaining choices were few—they could only pick the least terrible option.

Perhaps Venerable Puguang and the Thunderclap Monastery had another choice: to abandon the Saha World and the ritual beneath its fissures, hiding in obscurity and acting cautiously.

But no one knew whether the Celestial Master Mansion of Mount Longhu would continue hunting them—or how long they could evade them.

"During the Han Dynasty, was the Fourteenth Celestial Master of Mount Longhu, Master Gao, in the Azure Heaven?" Master Baoneng asked. "Is he... still alive?"

Cen Ruopu’s expression turned solemn. "Before you two eminent monks, I shall not lie. Master Gao did indeed enter the Azure Heaven. Whether he still lives, I have no confirmed news. The answer will only be clear once the Azure Heaven reopens."

"Venerable Puguang wishes to speak with Daoist Zhou Tian in person," Master Duming interjected.

Cen Ruopu nodded. "My master desires the same opportunity."

He handed a talisman to the two monks.

Master Duming accepted it, and they bid farewell.

After watching Cen Ruopu leave, Master Baoneng turned to Master Duming. "I will make some preparations in this mortal realm. Please inform Venerable Puguang about Daoist Zhou Tian."

Master Duming was naturally more familiar with the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms realm. However, when it came to setting up formations that affected the earth’s veins and celestial phenomena, Master Baoneng, as a practitioner of the Vow School, was more skilled than him, a member of the Zen Martial School.

Master Duming had already provided detailed information about this realm in recent years.

He clasped his hands together. "Taoist cultivators rarely set foot in this realm, and Witch Sect members like Jia Xianting have become less aggressive. But with the current volatile situation, please remain vigilant."

Master Baoneng nodded and bid him farewell before setting off alone to survey the flow of spiritual energy across the land.

Though he did not fully agree with Daoist Zhou Tian and Cen Ruopu’s suggestion to accelerate the merger of the human realms, he prepared in advance just in case.

As a master of the Vow School, he had long attained insight into emptiness, excelling at concealing his true essence. When unwilling to reveal himself, he could withdraw his presence as if he were nothingness.

Few in the world could detect his movements.

But in a distant place, a sudden, crisp chime of a jade qing rang out.

The sound was melodious and pleasant.

Yet the owner of the qing froze slightly.

"A Thunderclap Monastery monk of such cultivation... likely Baoneng."

Shen Xi, leader of the Southern Jin’s Shushan Sect, gazed calmly at the suddenly resonating jade qing.

After paying respects at the ruins of the Shushan Sect in the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms realm, Shen Xi had continued wandering the world without a fixed destination, drifting like a phantom.

As a ninth-layer, fourth-stage cultivator who had long attained the ability to roam freely and had mastered the Vast Earth Qi, Shen Xi could easily conceal his immortal soul while remaining acutely perceptive.

Though the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms realm was embroiled in war, Shen Xi remained detached, observing the mortal world as if he were not part of it.

Until today, when the jade qing at his side chimed on its own.

This meant that a highly accomplished Buddhist monk was nearby.

Shen Xi was a swordsman, as his mentor, Gongsun Daoqi, had once been.

However, Gongsun Daoqi had temporarily set aside his swordsmanship to refine this very jade qing, known as the Ethereal Jade Qing, as his lifebound treasure.

After Shen Xi attained the Great Vehicle realm of the ninth layer, he inherited the treasure and spent considerable effort refining and improving it, enhancing its efficacy.

The treasure’s function was singular:

To detect the movements of powerful Buddhist monks within a certain range, serving as an early warning.

For the former Southern Jin Shushan Sect, this had been their greatest source of pressure.

The concept of "ethereality" shared similarities with the Buddhist notion of emptiness.

Though the treasure’s function was simple, its effects were profound.

And the former abbot of the Southern Jin’s Little Western Heaven, Master Baoneng, was a Buddhist monk Shen Xi knew well—and one he was particularly wary of.

Shen Xi gazed at the Ethereal Jade Qing for a moment before deciding not to avoid the encounter.

Instead, he followed the qing’s guidance and sought out Master Baoneng.

Master Baoneng, having perfected the Five Certifications of Compassion in the ninth-layer Dharmakaya of the Vow School, possessed exceptional perception.

He soon sensed someone approaching—someone familiar.

When a flash of sword light streaked toward him, Master Baoneng clasped his hands together. "Sect Leader Shen, it has been a long time. I trust you have been well."

Shen Xi’s form merged with his sword, leaving no visible trace of his body. Only his calm voice emerged from the sword light:

"What is the venerable master currently occupied with?"

Master Baoneng halted his work, sweeping his hand to erase all traces of the formation.

"The Saha World no longer has a place for us, and the Buddhist disciples in this realm have suffered greatly. I was merely chanting sutras to guide their souls."

The flowing sword light rippled slightly. "Master, as a monk, why lie?"

Master Baoneng sighed softly. "In the Southern Jin, though our two sects were not particularly close, we coexisted peacefully. Has Sect Leader Shen been burdened by unresolved grievances? If so, I am willing to apologize and ask for your forgiveness."

Shen Xi replied, "It is true that our sect once lived under the shadow of the Little Western Heaven. I struggled to navigate the situation for Shushan’s sake, but I bear no resentment toward the circumstances of that time.

"However, if I were to walk away now without acting, that would weigh on my conscience. Master, you know this well—why resort to such psychological tactics?"

As he spoke, the sword light flashed and appeared before Master Baoneng in an instant.

Master Baoneng sighed inwardly as the Dharmakaya of the Great Virtuous Heavenly Dragon Bodhisattva manifested.

As a ninth-layer, fifth-stage Buddhist monk, he had attained the Sambhogakaya.

Unlike Chonghui’s Sambhogakaya, which took the form of Mahakasyapa, Master Baoneng’s was a second Great Virtuous Heavenly Dragon Bodhisattva.

The two Bodhisattvas struck together with earth-shaking force.

The Sambhogakaya possessed the unique ability to discern an opponent’s true essence, attacking both body and soul simultaneously.

Though Shen Xi’s soul resided within his sword and his sword light was swift, if he came too close, Master Baoneng’s Sambhogakaya could seize him.

But when the Sambhogakaya reached out—it grasped nothing.

The sword light flowed like water, seemingly unhurried yet effortlessly evading the Sambhogakaya before slashing toward Master Baoneng’s Dharmakaya.

Master Baoneng’s heart chilled. The mighty Dharmakaya of the Great Virtuous Heavenly Dragon Bodhisattva chose to retreat.

At the fifth stage of the Vow School’s ninth layer, having attained the Wisdom of Liberation, one could make their true essence seem as if it had entered emptiness.

Normally, even attacks from ninth-layer Taoist grandmasters would struggle to land.

But Master Baoneng also knew Shen Xi’s swordsmanship well enough to realize that the fluctuations of time within his sword light exceeded his current understanding.

If this strike truly landed on his Dharmakaya, the distorted flow of time could inflict severe damage.

Master Baoneng’s judgment was correct.

Shen Xi’s lifebound flying sword, Morning and Evening, was one of the Southern Jin Shushan Sect’s legendary treasures, on par with the Supreme Splendor.

Its sword light manipulated time unpredictably, even inducing temporal chaos in opponents, creating unnatural fractures and contradictions.

No matter how mystical an opponent’s defenses were, the sword light could strike before they activated, appearing effortless yet unstoppable.

An unprepared opponent would suffer greatly from the first strike.

Though Master Baoneng seemed to evade it, the sword light grew even more intricate, its temporal mysteries deepening.

Despite his precautions, Master Baoneng was still a fraction too slow—and his Dharmakaya was struck.

True to form, the seemingly intangible Dharmakaya cracked open, golden light spilling out like blood.

Only thanks to the Sambhogakaya’s swift intervention, unleashing a sweeping mantra, did the sword light fail to press its advantage further.

"...As expected, the Time Immortal Physique," Master Baoneng muttered, his extensive knowledge allowing him to recognize Shen Xi’s rare constitution.

His Sambhogakaya and Dharmakaya joined forces in a Heavenly Dragon Chant, countering another strike from Morning and Evening.

Master Baoneng had no time to heal his Dharmakaya’s wound.

Even with his cultivation, he could not simultaneously heal and fight.

He had to focus entirely on his opponent.

Times had changed. Master Baoneng had no desire to engage Shen Xi in a decisive battle in this realm, especially with the risk of other Taoist experts like Mu Chunyang arriving.

But facing a Great Vehicle master of the Taoist Artifact School, whose sword flight defied distance and space, Master Baoneng was at a speed disadvantage.

Unlike Venerable Puguang, who had attained the Golden Body and could manifest multiple avatars, Master Baoneng’s Vow School techniques had limitations when mimicking other traditions.

Against ordinary opponents, they might suffice—but not against someone like Shen Xi.

The chase continued, with neither side relenting.

In the distance, another battle erupted.

Master Duming, coming to Master Baoneng’s aid, clashed with Mu Chunyang, the leader of the True Martial Temple.

After a brief skirmish, Master Duming switched opponents with Master Baoneng—not because Mu Chunyang was easier to handle, but because Master Baoneng was better suited to face him.

Master Duming took on Shen Xi instead.

As a ninth-layer master of the Zen Martial School, he had perfected the Five Supernatural Powers: the Divine Eye, Divine Ear, Mind Reading, Knowledge of Past Lives, and Divine Foot.

With Divine Foot—also known as Body Freedom—he could appear anywhere at will, compensating for the usual lack of speed in Buddhist techniques.

Though still slower than martial immortals or Taoist artifact masters of the same realm, his movements were now formidable.

Shen Xi was a prodigy with extraordinary strength, but he had yet to reach the Minor Liberation realm of the artifact masters. Thus, Master Duming could at least match his speed, unlike Master Baoneng.

As for Mu Chunyang, though his defenses and offense were both excellent, neither his Alchemy School techniques nor the True Martial Temple’s arts specialized in speed.

Master Baoneng, even if outmatched, could still attempt to retreat.

In the Saha World, Lei Jun received word of the conflict and prepared to descend to the mortal realm.

But before he could set out, Shen Xi and Mu Chunyang reported that other experts had secretly aided Masters Baoneng and Duming.

The two monks, seeking only to escape, paid a small price before fleeing through a spatial portal leading from the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms realm to the Great Ming realm.

"Who do you think it was?" Wang Guiyuan asked.

Lei Jun replied, "According to Mu Chunyang and Shen Xi, it was a local power from that realm—someone with mysterious methods."

Wang Guiyuan frowned. "A great witch from Mount Ling?"

Lei Jun: "Witch Zhen Jia Xianting has been absent for some time."

Wang Guiyuan: "It doesn’t seem like the Witch King’s doing. Was this Jia Xianting’s own idea?"

"Possible," Lei Jun said. "Witch Luo Sun Li and Witch Gu Elder Lei have long suspected him."

Wang Guiyuan sighed. "After how the Han Emperor was manipulated by the Kongsang Witch King, does the Witch King of Mount Ling have no plans?"

Lei Jun: "According to Sun Li, no."

The Witch King of Mount Ling’s methods differed greatly from the Kongsang Witch King’s.

"But it’s hard to say for sure. Only the Witch King likely knows the full picture," Lei Jun added.

He waved at Wang Guiyuan. "Right now, I’m more interested in the Thunderclap Monastery monks’ activities in the mortal realm. I’ll go take a look."

Arriving in the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms realm, Lei Jun headed to the location mentioned in Shen Xi and Mu Chunyang’s messages.

Shen Xi had already returned and met with Lei Jun. "Celestial Master Lei."

After exchanging greetings, Lei Jun smiled. "Brother Shen, you are not just the strongest native cultivator of the two Jin realms—you are the strongest in that world, period. With Venerable Shanzhihui and Venerable Puguang absent, no one can rival you."

Shen Xi shook his head. "You flatter me, Celestial Master. Masters Baoneng and Duming fled because they feared your arrival. Otherwise, the battle would have continued."

Buddhist monks were known for their endurance. Though the Vow School’s resilience fell short of the Zen Martial and Precept Schools, it still surpassed most traditions. Only the Alchemy School could compare.

"After this battle, you should be able to cultivate the Cosmic Qi and attain the Minor Liberation of Five Qi Converging. Congratulations in advance," Lei Jun said.

Shen Xi: "I will make arrangements after returning to the mountain. Thank you for your kind words, Celestial Master."

Lei Jun nodded and quietly observed the surrounding earth veins.

Though Master Baoneng had erased his formations hastily, traces remained.

After surveying the area, Lei Jun pondered deeply.

Though unsure if Witch Zhen Jia Xianting had been the one aiding the monks, Lei Jun still relayed the information to Mount Ling.

The Witch King Huangfu Qi was currently in seclusion, uninvolved in external affairs. But the great witches of Mount Ling convened to discuss the matter.

According to Sun Li, some had proposed summoning Witch Xian Zhao Qianran into the world while urgently recalling Witch Peng Qiao Yang and Witch Zhen Jia Xianting.

The undercurrents within Mount Ling were beginning to surface.

"Let the elders of Mount Ling handle their own affairs," Lei Jun said, motioning for Wang Guiyuan to sit with him. "This is a treasure from the Southern Jin’s Shushan Sect—borrowed temporarily. I’ll return it later."

Wang Guiyuan examined the Ethereal Jade Qing. "Ingenious. The world is full of talented individuals.

"But detecting Buddhist monks at the Dharmakaya level is its limit—it can’t reach someone like Venerable Puguang."

Lei Jun: "We don’t need that high a level. Even something weaker would suffice. The key is expanding the quantity."

Wang Guiyuan knew his junior brother placed great importance on intelligence gathering. "You want to deploy these across multiple realms to monitor changes in earth veins and spiritual energy?"

Lei Jun: "Ideally, it wouldn’t be limited to just Buddhists. But we must start somewhere."

Wang Guiyuan shook his head. "Don’t take this the wrong way, but Gongsun Daoqi and Shen Xi could craft this treasure not just because of their skill but also due to rare materials. If not for that, they wouldn’t have made just one..."

He trailed off as Lei Jun looked at him expectantly.

"Senior Brother, with your dual cultivation in Taoism and Buddhism, and your vast experience, you must have accumulated many rare treasures. Shall we discuss this?"

Wang Guiyuan’s lips twitched. "Must you keep plucking wool from the same sheep?"