Seeking Fortune and Avoiding Misfortune: Starting from the Celestial Master’s Mansion
Chapter 74: Get there first and you’re one step closer

“Hmm, just leave this person to me.” Xia Bo took the captive from Lei Jun.

He looked at Lei Jun and asked, “On the way back, other than Tang-shizhi, did you happen to see Xu-shizhi?”

Regarding Tang Xiaotang, there was no need for Xia Bo to ask further. He had already received word before meeting Lei Jun that Tang Xiaotang had gone to Chiyuan Grotto-Heaven.

For now, there was no sign of activity from the Yellow Heaven Sect in that area.

Although Tang Xiaotang made the trip in vain, the fact that Chiyuan Grotto-Heaven was unharmed was ultimately good news for Tianshi Mansion.

But Xu Yuanzhen, who had been pursuing the mysterious expert who ambushed the Tianshi, had been missing for some time.

Lei Jun replied, “I haven’t seen her, nor heard any news about Senior Sister.”

Xia Bo pondered. “The mysterious assailant who harmed the Head Master is indeed detestable, but in these troubled times, I hope Xu-shizhi will exercise caution and not pursue the desperate too recklessly.”

Lei Jun asked, “Xia-shibo, who exactly is that mysterious assailant?”

Xia Bo shook his head. “We still don’t know. We’ll have to wait for Xu-shizhi to return to the mountain and see if she discovered anything.”

He looked at Lei Jun and smiled again. “I’ve heard about what happened with the Tianxu Sect. You did very well, and Senior Brother Tu spoke highly of you.

Additionally, Zhongqing nearly fell into the hands of the Yellow Heaven Sect, and it was thanks to you that she was rescued.”

Zhongqing was Xia Qing’s Dao name. Xia Bo was both her uncle and her mentor.

“At Tianxu Mountain, it was mainly under the leadership of Tu-shibo that the entire sect united to repel the enemy. I was just following the teachings of my elders and obeying Tu-shibo’s orders,” Lei Jun said. “The sect always teaches us to support each other. I believe if I were in danger, Senior Sister Xia would do the same for me.”

Xia Bo smiled and nodded. “True, but credit must be given where it’s due. Whether as your elder or as Zhongqing’s uncle, I can’t let this go unrewarded.”

He thought for a moment, then took out a rather large brocade box.

“You are learning under Yuan-shidi and lack for nothing. I can’t give you anything too ordinary, but this should suit you.”

Lei Jun accepted the brocade box. “I dare not refuse the gift of my elder. Thank you for the treasure, Xia-shibo.”

After leaving Xia Bo, Lei Jun opened the brocade box, and spiritual energy immediately surged out.

Inside was a massive black sac, resembling a raindrop but nearly a foot in diameter.

The surface was dull, yet it radiated abundant spiritual power. There was a faint scent of blood, but it wasn’t foul—more like a primal heat.

Bear King’s Mystic Gall.

Lei Jun’s mind suddenly identified the item.

“Is this the Sixth-Grade Opportunity mentioned in the second Upper-Moderate Omen?”

Lei Jun nodded and carefully stowed the treasure away.

He wondered if he would have missed this treasure had he not returned to Mount Longhu promptly.

He then thought about Tang Xiaotang and what the Fifth-Grade Opportunity in her first Upper-Moderate Omen might be.

Closing the brocade box, he took out the earlier Jingwei Box given by Chu Yu and nested the large brocade box inside the smaller one.

After packing his belongings, Lei Jun asked his fellow disciples about the current situation in the mountain.

Xu Yuanzhen, Yuan Mobai, and Tang Xiaotang were all absent.

Wang Guiyuan and Luo Haoran were still on the mountain.

Lei Jun decided to visit his fellow disciple, Wang Guiyuan.

“Lei-shidi, I’m so glad you returned safely.”

Wang Guiyuan was first relieved, then sighed. “If I had known so much would happen, I would’ve given you even more supplies when you left.”

Lei Jun laughed. “You gave me plenty. I even brought some back.”

The two sat down, and Wang Guiyuan explained the current situation in the mountain.

The death of their Head Master, Li Qingfeng, had struck Tianshi Mansion hard.

...It might sound disrespectful to the fallen Tianshi, but in a stroke of bitter fortune, the Tianshi managed to take down the Lin Clan Leader with him.

Now, Jiangzhou’s Lin Clan drew more attention than Tianshi Mansion. The major powers remained focused on Jiangzhou, giving Tianshi Mansion a chance to regroup.

Even without the current Tianshi, Mount Longhu could still handle Yellow Heaven Sect on equal terms.

At present, Second Shibo Li Hongyu, wielding the Tianshi Robe, was confronting the Yellow Heaven Sect’s leader, Taiping Daoist.

Third Shibo Li Ziyang, Fourth Shibo Yao Yuan, Lei Jun’s master Yuan Mobai, and Tang Xiaotang were leading the counterattacks in four directions. They had successfully pushed the Yellow Heaven Sect’s experts out of the mountain range, restoring stability to the mountain.

Fifth Shibo Shangguan Ning was outside the mountain, coordinating with Yuan Mobai and the others while also watching the situation in Jiangzhou.

The concern now was no longer the Lin Clan but other major sects, in case a stronger force took advantage of the chaos.

Meanwhile, Shangguan Ning also bore the responsibility of maintaining communication with the Tang Imperial Court.

Young Tianshi Li Zhengxuan, bearing the Tianshi Sword, and Supreme Elder Li Song were guarding the mountain.

Overall, the counterattack against the Yellow Heaven Sect was cautious, not just to deal with them, but to prevent opportunistic rivals from striking.

“How have things been for you, Senior Brother?” Lei Jun asked.

Wang Guiyuan replied, “I’ve stayed on the mountain. Though I didn’t fight the enemy, my responsibilities are still heavy.”

Lei Jun asked, “Oh? What are you responsible for?”

Wang Guiyuan said, “A few of us disciples, along with a senior uncle, are guarding the ancestral tombs in the back mountain.”

Lei Jun leaned back slightly and took another look at Wang Guiyuan.

Wang Guiyuan’s expression was solemn. “Lei-shidi, would you like to join us? It’s a heavy responsibility!”

Lei Jun replied, “It certainly is. Only a talent like you can handle it. As for me, I’ll follow whatever task the elders assign.”

Wang Guiyuan sighed. “Lei-shidi, you’re always ready to take on duties. Just be careful—there’s a lot of risk.”

---

While Lei Jun and his fellow disciple chatted, Xia Bo had another visitor.

“Xia-shishu, I’ve successfully completed my mission,” said Chen Yi, a dashing young man of twenty, as he saluted Xia Bo.

Xia Bo nodded with a smile. “Well done. You’ve earned many merits and deserve a reward.”

He nodded to a young man standing beside him.

This youth, dressed in a deep-red Daoist robe, was a Talismanic Disciple. At Xia Bo’s signal, he handed Chen Yi a jade bottle. “Chen-shidi.”

Chen Yi accepted it. “Thank you, Xia-shishu, and thank you, Xia-shixiong.”

The youth, named Xia Xiushan, was Xia Bo’s eldest disciple and also his nephew, making him Xia Qing’s cousin.

After watching Chen Yi leave, Xia Xiushan asked, “Master…”

“What is it?” Xia Bo responded.

Xia Xiushan hesitated before asking, “I remember you mentioned giving the Bear King’s Mystic Gall to Chen-shidi?”

Xia Bo chuckled. “At the time, I didn’t know about Lei-shizhi saving Zhongqing. Things worked out according to fate.”

He smiled. “No worries. The way things were distributed suits them both. The Bear King’s Mystic Gall is rare—first come, first served. As cultivators, we should act in accord with fate and follow the will of Heaven.”