Seeking Fortune and Avoiding Misfortune: Starting from the Celestial Master’s Mansion
Chapter 48: Junior Brother Lei, there are risks in overcoming the tribulation!

Lei Jun had some fresh ideas in mind: "Master, don’t laugh at me. I’m still far from perfecting it."

Back in Xuanyang Grotto-Heaven, neither he nor Qu Yong and the others could use the Flame Talisman except by tossing it one by one. Although they could fire them consecutively, Lei Jun felt the firepower was too dispersed.

He hoped to make it more concentrated, on a larger scale. Perhaps as his cultivation improved, other spells could achieve this, but Lei Jun was determined to give it a try anyway. For now, it was just a prototype with many hurdles to overcome. If progress stalled for too long, he wouldn't dwell on it excessively. But if he could quickly acquire the Water Marrow Yinfish to enhance his comprehension, things might turn out differently. He had already tasted the benefits in this regard.

After discussing his ideas about spirit talismans with Yuan Mobai, Lei Jun extended his right hand, spreading his fingers with his palm facing upward. Channeling his mystical techniques, he gathered mana into his right palm. A faint green hue shimmered in his palm, occasionally flashing with light. It looked as though a green undercurrent, a hidden river, was coursing beneath his skin.

When Lei Jun waved his hand, the green glow remained buried under his skin, yet the corrosive force it carried was startling. Without external defenses, an opponent hit directly by Lei Jun’s palm would experience a massive decline in vitality.

"Combining the spiritual energy of Blue Stone Ink with your own mana to create a new force?" Yuan Mobai asked with a smile.

"Please guide me, Master," Lei Jun replied.

Originally, Blue Stone Ink required prolonged exposure to erode vitality and physical strength. But through Lei Jun's constant experimentation, he had turned it into a force capable of immediate effect. While mastering it required extended time spent with Blue Stone Ink mines, once learned, its power could be unleashed instantly. Lei Jun named it the “Dark River Force.”

He clenched his fingers into a fist, drawing the green glow back into his palm until it was nearly invisible. However, the latent force remained in his hand. Striking with a punch produced a similar effect to his earlier palm strike but was even more concealed.

I wanted to be a nimble, quick-strike fighter—hit and retreat, light and agile. How did I end up developing techniques like a scheming tactician? Lei Jun mused. Something about this feels off...

Still, successfully creating a new force delighted him. Even though it was primitive and didn’t yet qualify as a spell or Daoist art, transforming some of his ideas into reality since arriving in this world had always been one of Lei Jun’s greatest joys. This accomplishment was made possible not only by advancing from Foundation Establishment to the Altar Stage but also by the mental nourishment provided by the Fire Marrow Yangfish.

This deepened Lei Jun's eagerness to enhance his comprehension further. It wasn’t just about the Dark River Force or the chained Flame Talismans; he had countless other ideas he wanted to bring to life.

“For your age and cultivation, this is quite extraordinary,” Yuan Mobai praised, smiling more warmly. He then helped Lei Jun refine and adjust the new force, perfecting its structure further. Though his teaching style was traditional, Yuan Mobai didn’t impose rigid methods on Lei Jun, instead guiding him to refine other aspects of his cultivation.

Even though the spiritual energy in their environment wasn’t as abundant as on Mount Longhu, Lei Jun had anticipated this and brought ample resources to sustain his daily practices. Thus, master and disciple quietly remained in the mountains, awaiting the maturation of the Water Marrow Yinfish while continuing their lessons.

Time passed unnoticed in the secluded mountains, and summer arrived before they knew it.

One day, the peace was unexpectedly disrupted. Yuan Mobai informed Lei Jun that he had to leave Qingxiao Monastery for an indeterminate period. However, he assured Lei Jun that he would return before the Water Marrow Yinfish emerged. Lei Jun, curious but respectful, agreed without hesitation.

Before leaving, Yuan Mobai left some tasks for Lei Jun, who began practicing independently.

During lunch one afternoon, the vice abbot of Qingyun Monastery, Qin Tao, spoke with heartfelt envy: “Junior Brother Lei, to be honest, I deeply admire you. You were accepted by Mount Longhu and even became Elder Yuan’s disciple, receiving his teachings daily.”

Qin Tao sighed. “In just a few months, hearing Elder Yuan’s lectures has resolved years of confusion in my own cultivation.”

Lei Jun glanced at him. Qin Tao appeared around forty, clad in Daoist robes with a crown on his head, a long beard hanging over his chest. Like the abbot Lu Zhaoqing, Qin Tao exuded the appearance of an enlightened Daoist. Locals from nearby villages revered him as a celestial figure. However, Lei Jun knew that Qin Tao was over fifty, with his cultivation level stuck in the Second Heaven of Foundation Establishment.

Seeing Qin Tao’s earnest demeanor, Lei Jun replied simply, “My master’s Daoist arts are profound. I was lucky to be accepted under his tutelage.”

Qin Tao put down his bowl and picked up a teacup. “Forgive my bluntness, but is it true that Junior Brother Lei is just in his early twenties?”

“Twenty-four,” Lei Jun replied.

“A rare talent!” Qin Tao exclaimed. “Judging by your vitality, you must have reached the Perfection Stage of Foundation Establishment?”

Lei Jun deflected the question with a counter. “Is Senior Brother Qin also at the Perfection Stage?”

Qin Tao smiled bitterly. “Years of effort have brought some gains, but the chasm to the Third Heaven remains insurmountable. I’m sure you understand the dangers of crossing major thresholds in cultivation.”

Lei Jun gave a noncommittal nod. “Yes.”

Qin Tao’s tone turned somber. “Between major realms, the tribulations are genuinely life-threatening.”

He recounted grim examples: a disciple of the Zixiao Sect who failed the tribulation into Foundation Establishment and nearly died from qi deviation, and the senior-most member of Qingyun Monastery, who perished attempting to ascend to the Third Heaven.

Such stories underscored the cultivation world's unforgiving nature: failure meant no second chances.

Despite Qin Tao’s apparent sincerity, Lei Jun discerned his underlying envy and resentment. Qin Tao’s prime years had passed, leaving him with dimming prospects compared to a promising young talent like Lei Jun.

Feigning agreement, Lei Jun replied, “Indeed, the fear of death looms large.”

“Yes…” Qin Tao agreed, his gaze thoughtful.

Lei Jun’s voice turned solemn. “But for us cultivators, there are fates worse than death.”

“Worse than death?” Qin Tao echoed, startled.

Lei Jun nodded with earnest conviction. “Waiting for death.”