Seeking Fortune and Avoiding Misfortune: Starting from the Celestial Master’s Mansion
Chapter 5: Avoiding Danger Once More

Lei Jun looked at Wang Guiyuan and said, “Daoist…”

Wang Guiyuan smiled, “Junior Brother Lei, you don’t need to be so formal. Just call me Senior Brother.”

“With your talent and temperament, even if you don’t participate in next year’s initiation ceremony, you’ll surely be able to join the next one and enter the mansion.”

He added, “I, too, cultivated at the Sixth Academy of the Daoist Children’s Academy when I was there.”

“Is that so…” Lei Jun replied, “I’ll have to rely on you for guidance in the future, Senior Brother.”

Wang Guiyuan handed a letter to Lei Jun and said, “I’ll be visiting the Sixth Academy of the Daoist Children’s Academy often. If you face any difficulties in life or cultivation, I’ll do my best to help.”

Lei Jun expressed his gratitude and then read Elder Yuan’s letter.

The general idea was that Elder Yuan had already made some inquiries and found that although Lei Jun’s innate bone structure was average, he had many redeeming qualities. Setting aside Xu Yuanzhen’s intentions, Elder Yuan himself was willing to take Lei Jun as a disciple.

However, while both Xu Yuanzhen and Elder Yuan had this idea, they were unsure of Lei Jun’s own wishes.

It wasn’t that Xu Yuanzhen didn’t want to recommend Lei Jun to her master, the Tianshi. The Tianshi, compared to Elder Yuan, was an avid secluder, having been in closed-door cultivation for a decade. It was uncertain when he would emerge, and there was no guarantee he would return even before the next initiation ceremony, let alone this one.

Hence, Xu Yuanzhen decided to introduce Lei Jun to Elder Yuan instead.

However, as the saying goes, “Water flows to lower places, people climb to higher ones.” Anyone entering the Tianshi Mansion would choose to become the direct disciple of the Tianshi if given the chance.

Since Xu Yuanzhen, who introduced Lei Jun to the path, wouldn’t take him as her disciple, it was up to Lei Jun to decide whom to follow.

Perhaps Lei Jun was willing to wait for the Tianshi to exit seclusion…

After reading the letter, Lei Jun’s first thought was:

Given the usual social customs, with this kind of invitation, who would still express a desire to become the Tianshi’s disciple? One should kneel immediately and beg the Elder to take them in, even if just for appearances.

Yet…

Lei Jun looked at the handwriting on the letter and pondered for a moment without immediately replying.

As he read the words, it felt as though a pair of gentle eyes were gazing at him, full of encouragement.

Lei Jun, who had been in this world for quite some time, was certain this wasn’t an illusion.

The writing of those highly skilled in cultivation could carry emotions and myriad meanings.

He set the letter down and looked up at Wang Guiyuan.

Wang Guiyuan smiled, “Before leaving, Master spoke to me about you, Junior Brother Lei. He said that cultivation is incredibly difficult, and only by facing one’s true intentions can one persist unwaveringly.”

Lei Jun replied, “You must think I’m indecisive, Senior Brother. Right now, I really have no idea what to do.”

Wang Guiyuan studied Lei Jun for a moment.

No matter how he saw it, the tall young man before him seemed like someone who knew his own mind.

But Wang Guiyuan didn’t say much. He only smiled and shook his head.

“Junior Brother Lei, you jest. Master once said there’s no need to rush your decision. Who knows? The Tianshi might come out of seclusion before the initiation. Until then, while he isn’t in seclusion, if you have questions during your practice, you can ask him or seek me out. I’m not as knowledgeable as Master, but I’ll try to help you.”

Lei Jun replied, “Thank you, Elder and Senior Brother.”

At that moment, the light sphere in Lei Jun’s mind remained still, without any omen appearing.

This seemed to indicate that Elder Yuan and Wang Guiyuan were sincere in their words, and that aspiring to become the Tianshi’s disciple wouldn’t bring harm to Lei Jun.

Perhaps Elder Yuan hadn’t seriously considered taking him as a disciple and was only showing face for Xu Yuanzhen.

Or maybe the time wasn’t right, and they had to wait until the initiation ceremony approached?

In the following days, whenever Lei Jun sought Wang Guiyuan’s advice, he found him helpful and attentive. Compared to other Daoist Children’s Academy instructors who were busy with multiple disciples, Wang Guiyuan essentially provided him with personalized guidance.

With an excellent mentor and the essence of Purple-Gold Lingzhi nourishing his vitality, Lei Jun’s cultivation progressed rapidly, reaching the eighth Qi Sea and successfully breaking through to the Eighth Layer of Qi Refining.

As time passed, nearly a year after entering, Lei Jun gradually moved past the initial phase where everything felt novel.

The repetitive daily lessons and cultivation began to feel somewhat tedious.

However, once Lei Jun overcame this mental hurdle, he started to perceive and experience the essence of the Dao, serene and carefree.

Until one day, this tranquility was unexpectedly disrupted.

“Something’s been stolen from the Daoist Children’s Academy!”

The news came just as Lei Jun and the others were finishing their evening lecture.

The academy quickly descended into chaos.

“What happened? What happened? Who was it?”

“I heard someone from the Second Academy stole something from the First Academy. They know who it is and are now chasing him.”

“Have they caught him?”

“Not yet. Apparently, he’s escaped into the mountains.”

Soon, an instructor gathered everyone and officially announced, “Tonight, we have an additional exercise. We’ll collaborate to search the mountain. Prepare quickly and set out immediately!”

Although the matter concerned the main Tianshi Mansion on the mountain, the Daoist Children’s Academy was primarily responsible for handling it.

The Daoists from the various academies mobilized, dividing into teams to comb the mountain, setting up barriers and nets, resembling a grand hunt.

Lei Jun’s group, led by two True Disciples of the Tianshi Mansion, was assigned to guard the key points on North Mountain, observing the surroundings and scanning for signs.

One of the young Daoists, only about fourteen or fifteen years old, was the same age as most of the apprentices.

However, Lei Jun, being a nineteen-year-old late entrant, had to take instructions from these younger Daoists and follow their lead.

Normally, this wasn’t an issue, but in moments like this, the disparity between Daoists and apprentices was apparent. It was a reminder to quickly elevate his cultivation and participate in the initiation… Lei Jun thought.

The search continued without results.

The two True Disciples leading the group began to disagree.

The young Daoist waved his hand, “Staying put here is useless. We should search northeast or northwest.”

The other, an older Daoist, said, “Junior Brother, our task is to guard this area. We shouldn’t leave our posts.”

The young Daoist suggested, “Then let’s split into two teams. One stays here, while the other searches the sides.”

Lei Jun and the other apprentices waited quietly nearby.

Suddenly, light flashed in Lei Jun’s mind.

The previously dormant light sphere projected a message:

【The search for the intruder holds hidden dangers. Split up and proceed at your own risk.】

Three omens appeared:

【Upper-Moderate Omen: Participate in the active pursuit. Stay focused, encounter no complications, and gain a Sixth-Grade opportunity. Good Luck.】

【Moderate-Moderate Omen: Stay at your post. Neither gain nor loss. Peaceful.】

【Lower-Bad Omen: Join the pursuit but change focus midway. Caught in a deadly trap. Certain death. Bad Luck.】