Seeking Fortune and Avoiding Misfortune: Starting from the Celestial Master’s Mansion
Chapter 70: Another one killed

In the belly of Qiántiān Peak, spiritual energy surged skyward like an enraged dragon. This subterranean dragon seemed to collide with the heavenly dragon above.

Suddenly, divine lightning descended from the sky. The lightning pillar was unimaginably thick, striking the summit of Qiántiān Peak and sending waves of thunder crashing into the mountain’s depths. The vegetation on the mountain was instantly reduced to ash, while an immense force erupted from within the mountain’s core.

Lei Jun and Xia Qing turned to look. From their perspective, Qiántiān Peak seemed to expand outward from within before suddenly imploding and collapsing inward.

The earlier chain reaction caused by the collapse of the main peak’s formation had only created a fissure in Qiántiān Peak. Now, amidst swirling dust, the entire mountain crumbled. To say it was leveled would be an understatement—the site of the peak collapsed further, forming a deep pit and a vast canyon.

The tremors extended to the surrounding mountains, causing them to sway and topple. It was as if a massive earthquake had erupted throughout Tianxu Mountain, shaking even the main peak. Boulders tumbled down from the slopes.

The disciples on both sides, who had been fighting fiercely, were so stunned by the scene that they momentarily forgot the battle, their faces filled with shock and confusion.

“What’s going on?” Lei Jun exchanged a glance with Xia Qing.

Xia Qing’s eyes were wide with disbelief. “I have no idea.”

Lei Jun took a deep breath, his gaze sweeping over the bewildered disciples. He suddenly shouted:

His voice, amplified by mana, echoed across the peaks of Tianxu Mountain.

Xia Qing, catching on, quickly shouted as well: “Wipe out every last Yellow Heaven Sect heretic!”

Their voices, empowered by mana, carried far and wide. The mountains, momentarily quiet from the upheaval, now rang with the echoed cries:

“A Presiding Master from Mount Longhu… Yellow Heaven Sect heretics… wipe them out… wipe them out…”

The Yellow Heaven Sect disciples, who had been on the offensive, were stricken with panic. They had no idea what had just happened to Qiántiān Peak and were thrown into disarray. The Tianxu Sect disciples, seeing their enemy’s morale falter, seized the opportunity to counterattack.

The tides of battle shifted dramatically.

As if affirming the change in fortune, the main peak’s Dao Palace, which had been protected by four talismans, now restored itself to five, then six talismans.

Uncertain of the situation and unable to breach the Dao Palace’s defenses, the Yellow Heaven Sect elders at the summit hesitated. Finally, they had no choice but to retreat, gathering their disciples and withdrawing.

The destruction of Qiántiān Peak appeared to be a one-off event. Some Yellow Heaven Sect members realized no presiding masters from Mount Longhu had arrived. But the Tianxu Sect’s renewed confidence had already been cemented, and the Yellow Heaven Sect had no strength left to push their advantage. They retreated to observe the situation.

The Tianxu Sect managed to fend off the assault. Though they were severely weakened, they focused on regrouping and repairing the damaged defenses and temples.

“Nephew Lei, your warning was right. I was too complacent,” said Tu Guangyu. The leader of the Talismanic Branch looked disheveled, his body wounded. Lei Jun’s earlier warning had made him cautious, allowing him to protect the last half of the formation core and defend the Dao Palace.

But the betrayal had hit Tu Guangyu hard. The wounds to his spirit were deeper than those to his body; he looked significantly older now.

“You give me too much credit, Elder Tu,” Lei Jun replied. “I only voiced a suspicion. I never imagined the traitor would be someone as high-ranking as Elder Zhong.”

He continued, “What happened was beyond anyone’s control. Tianxu Sect still needs you to lead. Please take care of yourself.”

Tu Guangyu straightened up. “Don’t worry, Nephew Lei. I’m not finished yet.”

The Tianxu Sect disciples set about cleaning up the aftermath. Although Xia Qing wasn’t seriously hurt, she had been immobilized by several Sealing Talismans, Immobilizing Talismans, and Spirit-Suppressing Talismans. Her Essence, Spirit, and Willpower were drained. Lei Jun used a mid-grade Tranquility Talisman to help her, keeping the Vermilion-Tipped Brush a secret.

Lei Jun himself was drained from the night’s events, both mentally and spiritually. Though he was young and could recover quickly, fatigue still set in.

Fortunately, he had the Breath-Taking Flag. The flag not only provided protection and concealment but also drew on endless Earth Energy to help him rapidly restore his mana—a truly miraculous tool. His current cultivation level limited its full potential, which explained the Lower-Bad Omen predicting certain death.

Had he stayed in the mountain past midnight, even with the Breath-Taking Flag, his fate would have been sealed.

“Luckily, I took what I needed before midnight,” Lei Jun thought.

He unfurled the flag, revealing the new mysterious mark beside the original “息” (Breath) character.

“The Tianshi Seal,” Lei Jun murmured. The temptation was undeniable. He now held a vital clue to finding the Tianshi Seal. But as the omen had warned, the seal carried immense karmic weight.

The path was open, but caution was essential. He could feel himself reaching out to a door—one that awaited the right moment to be pushed open.

“Perhaps it’s time to revisit that Green Mountain…” he mused, making up his mind.

For now, he would wait until Tianxu Sect’s affairs were settled.

The next day, Sect Leader Tu Guangyu met Lei Jun again and said with a sigh, “Nephew Lei, your quick thinking saved us. Without your shout, the Yellow Heaven Sect would have pressed their attack.”

Xia Qing looked at Lei Jun with newfound respect.

Anyone could have shouted, but Lei Jun’s timing was crucial. His swift action had turned the tide.

“I just spoke up in the moment,” Lei Jun said modestly. “You and the elders’ steadfast defense of the main peak were the real key.”

Then he asked, “What happened to Qiántiān Peak?”

Tu Guangyu sighed. “The earth veins of Tianxu Mountain shifted for some unknown reason. The collapse of the Eight Extremes Formation worsened the instability, triggering the surge of earth energy and the descent of divine lightning. Qiántiān Peak, which stood for a thousand years, was destroyed by this calamity.”

His expression turned grim as a disciple reported, “Sect Leader, the traitor Zhong Yunfei’s body has been found buried under the rubble.”