Seeking Fortune and Avoiding Misfortune: Starting from the Celestial Master’s Mansion
Chapter 89: Thunder Magic Evolution Route

Lei Jun was curious about the unusual activity of the Tianshi Seal.

His spirit drifted into the True-One Altar Grotto-Heaven. He was immediately greeted by the sight of the Four-Nine Lamps positioned around the altar, flickering on and off. The flames seemed to be there and yet not, elusive and difficult to grasp. Even the wind above the altar felt sharper than usual.

Lei Jun watched quietly. After a while, he smiled faintly. He remained calm and let his spirit drift above the altar. At this moment, the Daoist essence within the grotto seemed more vibrant than before.

Seizing the opportunity, Lei Jun absorbed its mysteries, incorporating them into his own understanding.

He wasn’t sure how long had passed when a sudden sensation struck him. The feeling of someone trying to open a “passage” into the grotto reappeared. It felt familiar—he guessed it was the same person as last time.

But soon, the wind within the grotto shifted. Another person tried to activate the True-One Altar Grotto-Heaven.

“That makes two now,” Lei Jun observed silently. Two people were now trying to open an alternative passage.

Then...

“A third one.” Lei Jun was intrigued. If his senses were correct, besides himself, three other groups were trying to enter this grotto connected to the Tianshi Seal. Who were they? Were they all fellow disciples from the Tianshi Mansion, or members of the Yellow Heaven Sect?

Lei Jun recalled what his master, Yuan Mobai, had mentioned. When Chen Yi was vying to become a Tianshi direct disciple, Elder Hongyu and Elder Yao supported him. However, Chen Yi failed because the clues related to the Tianshi Seal that he found were perfectly encircled and covered by those discovered by the Young Tianshi Li Zhengxuan and Elder Ziyang.

From this perspective, one of the three groups trying to access the Tianshi Seal might be Young Tianshi Li Zhengxuan. After all, he was currently stationed at the Mansion and possessed the Tianshi Sword, one of the three great treasures.

Lei Jun observed a little longer.

All three groups failed to open the passage to the True-One Altar. Clearly, the clues they possessed were still incomplete. But the Tianshi Seal itself was becoming increasingly restless, indicating it was about to reappear.

Lei Jun speculated that the last time the Tianshi Seal surfaced briefly in the Shangqing River and vanished into Xunjiang, it caught many off guard. This time, with several experts prepared, it wouldn’t be so easy for it to escape.

As for what he should do then... Lei Jun pondered deeply.

His spirit returned to his body. Lei Jun didn’t rush to get up but continued meditating and cultivating quietly.

At that moment, someone arrived outside his residence.

Lei Jun frowned slightly, tidied himself briefly, and opened the door.

Outside, at the entrance of the small courtyard, a few people were waiting: Chu Yu in casual clothes, Chu Andong wearing a yellow Daoist robe as an Initiate Disciple, and Chu Kun in a gray Daoist robe as a Daoist apprentice.

“Daoist Lei, sorry to disturb you,” Chu Yu greeted with a smile.

“Master Chu, Senior Brother Chu,” Lei Jun invited them in and had them sit down.

Since there were no other apprentices around, Lei Jun also called Chu Kun “Junior Brother Chu,” just as Wang Guiyuan had once treated him when he was in the Daoist Children's Academy.

“I heard that Andong was injured, so I brought some medicine.”

Chu Yu smiled warmly. “I also prepared some for Daoist Lei to thank you for helping Andong. I hope you can take care of Andong and Kun in the future.”

Lei Jun replied, “Not at all, Master Chu, you’re too kind. Our elders always teach us to support our fellow disciples. Besides, Senior Brother Chu has given me treasures before; I am the one who feels indebted.”

Chu Yu shook her head with a smile. “Daoist Lei, you’re too polite.”

After exchanging pleasantries, Lei Jun accepted the medicine. The label on the bottle read “Jin Gu Yu Ji Powder” (Golden Bone Jade Skin Powder).

Lei Jun asked, “I live in the mountains and know little of the world, but isn’t this Jin Gu Yu Ji Powder a famous remedy from Huitang Hall in the capital?”

Chu Yu nodded. “It’s an authentic product from Huitang Hall. You can rest assured.”

Lei Jun certainly trusted it.

Huitang Hall, the greatest medical hall in the Tang Empire, was managed by the Medicine King Sect, whose head physician served the imperial court. In this world, medicine was also a form of cultivation. Though not known for combat, no one underestimated them.

There was a saying: “Martial arts and medicine go hand in hand.”

Body refining, combat skills, and medicine were the three branches of martial heritage. Historically, Confucian scholars and medical cultivators often intersected. As one of the Five Great Surnames and Seven Prominent Clans, the Chu Clan of Suzhou had strong ties with Huitang Hall.

“The Tianshi Mansion is full of alchemical experts, and Elder Yuan himself is one of the best. I fear I’m showing off unnecessarily,” Chu Yu said. “But the Jin Gu Yu Ji Powder has unique benefits; it’s better to be prepared.”

Lei Jun thanked them sincerely. “Thank you, Master Chu and Senior Brother Chu, I truly appreciate it.”

After chatting a bit more, the Chu trio left.

Lei Jun closed the gate but didn’t immediately return inside. He stood quietly in the courtyard, deep in thought.

When he saw Chu Yu, a sudden idea struck him.

The Chu Clan could show their support for the Tianshi Mansion simply by sending younger disciples like Chu Kun. Yet Chu Yu herself, a high-ranking figure, had come to Mount Longhu and even helped defeat a Blood River Sect expert. That was a significant gesture.

Did she have another motive...?

Lei Jun recalled the three groups trying to find the Tianshi Seal.

With her high cultivation, Lei Jun couldn’t detect if Chu Yu had any clues about the Tianshi Seal. But his intuition told him she was one of the three.

He remembered his master Yuan Mobai agreeing to take in Chu Kun because of a past encounter while searching for the Tianshi Seal. Yuan Mobai returned empty-handed then, but now Lei Jun suspected his master hadn’t truly failed.

Perhaps the Chu Clan had obtained the clues first... and now Chu Yu was handling it.

Lei Jun gazed at the sky, lost in thought.

Meanwhile, after leaving Lei Jun’s residence, Chu Yu didn’t immediately depart. She paused some distance away, turned back to look at the closed courtyard gate, and fell into thought.

Chu Andong asked curiously, “Aunt, is there something wrong with Lei Shidi?”

Chu Yu didn’t answer right away. Her intuition was sharp, though she couldn’t pinpoint the reason. After a moment, she shook her head with a smile. “Nothing’s wrong. This Daoist Lei may seem aloof, but he’s warm-hearted and steady. He’s someone worth forming a friendship with. Both of you should maintain good relations with him.”

Chu Andong nodded. “You’re right, Aunt. I feel the same way.”

Though Chu Kun agreed with his aunt’s assessment of Lei Jun, he had a different thought in mind: You’ve said this many times already. I wonder if you want us to befriend him, or if you want to get closer to him yourself?

As this thought flitted through his mind, his gaze drifted slightly.

Chu Yu noticed immediately and cast a sharp glance his way. Chu Kun quickly straightened his expression, suppressing any stray thoughts, and focused inward.

Since Chu Yu had come to Mount Longhu, she naturally stayed at the Mansion. Chu Andong took on the role of host, while Chu Kun returned to the Daoist Children’s Academy at the foot of the mountain.

Once out of Chu Yu’s sight, Chu Kun relaxed completely. Overall, it seemed that not pursuing scholarly studies and switching to the Daoist path wasn’t so bad after all.

The future Lei Shixiong seemed easy to get along with.

But what pleased Chu Kun the most was that every apprentice in the Daoist Children’s Academy had their own private residence.

That night, as the mountain fell into silence and everyone was asleep, Chu Kun secured the doors of his small courtyard and house.

Cultivation ultimately depended on oneself.

Though he considered his talent respectable, in a place filled with prodigies like the Chu Clan and Mount Longhu, he was unremarkable.

Fortunately...

He held a few spiritual items he had accumulated. Taking a deep breath, he tapped his forehead three times with his index finger, as if knocking on a door.

In the next instant, the boy’s figure and the items he held vanished into thin air, as though stepping through an invisible doorway into another world.

After some time, Chu Kun reappeared in his room, seemingly out of nowhere. The original spiritual items were gone, replaced by different ones.

Chu Kun weighed the new items in his hand, nodded with satisfaction, and began his cultivation.

---

That same night, Lei Jun’s courtyard welcomed another guest.

The visitor was someone Lei Jun had met a few times before. He was composed, with a refined and scholarly appearance, looking to be in his thirties or forties, with sharp eyes.

It was Fang Yue, the precocious talent of the Fang Clan of Jingxiang.

“Master Yongshan, I apologize for not greeting you sooner,” Lei Jun welcomed him warmly.

Lei Jun wasn’t particularly suspicious of Fang Yue’s visit.

Firstly, Fang Yue’s character was different from Chu Yu’s. Secondly, Fang Lu and Fang Mingyuan, direct descendants of the Fang Clan, had long been stationed near Mount Longhu, so it made sense for the Fang Clan to respond to recent events.

Having Fang Yue, a Middle Heavens cultivator, visit instead of a senior elder was already a restrained response.

“This time, I’ve come for two reasons: to coordinate with your sect in eliminating the Blood River Sect and to deliver supplies to our clan’s disciples,” Fang Yue explained succinctly.

Learning from painful experiences, the Fang Clan not only sent reinforcements but also intended to better equip their disciples.

As a gesture of gratitude for Lei Jun’s assistance in saving Fang Jian, Fang Yue brought a gift for him as well.

He unfolded a robe shimmering with golden radiance, woven with fine scales yet astonishingly light.

“This garment is called the Golden Thread Robe. It may be useful in your future battles, Daoist Lei,” Fang Yue said sincerely.

Lei Jun thanked him and accepted the Golden Thread Robe.

This robe, neither purely armor nor clothing, was infused with spiritual energy. It protected not only the body but also the soul, with many ingenious uses and excellent defensive capabilities.

After Fang Yue left, Lei Jun carefully examined the robe.

One particular feature caught his attention. The materials used in the robe contained spiritual substances rich in magnetic energy. As a result, it had exceptional defense against attacks from metallic weapons and magical artifacts.

This aspect resonated with Lei Jun’s own Golden Barrier Thunder, created from his Five Thunder Talisman.

In fact, his Golden Barrier Thunder was an offensive and defensive technique that incorporated magnetic energy, making it particularly effective against metallic weapons and artifacts.

“Interesting. This is worth exploring further,” Lei Jun thought, intrigued.

As his cultivation progressed, Lei Jun was preparing to advance to the Fourth Heaven Primal Talisman Stage.

The Yuan Heart Tranquil Jade could assist him in overcoming the tribulation. While it didn’t guarantee a smooth breakthrough, it brought his goal within reach.

With this goal in mind, Lei Jun’s ambitions grew. Successfully reaching the Primal Talisman Stage would extend his lifespan, enhance his power, and allow him to learn his fourth Life-Bound Spell.

He already had some ideas.

The conversation he overheard between the Fang siblings in the underground palace had sparked his imagination.

It was no secret that the most revered techniques in the Tianshi Mansion, recorded in the Three Realms True Canon Talismanic Scriptures, were only passed down to members of the Li family.

This exclusivity was due to two consecutive internal conflicts in the past. The conflicts had wiped out the non-Li elders who had mastered the Heavenly Book Talismanic Canon and the Nine Heavens Thunder Ancestor Apparition.

Even the Yellow Heaven Sect didn’t have any elders who had mastered the Heavenly Book Talismanic Canon.

These scriptures were preserved only in the Tianshi Robe and the Tianshi Seal.

As a result, the techniques became secret arts exclusive to the Li family.

Lei Jun’s master, Yuan Mobai, along with Yao Yuan, Shangguan Ning, and the next generation’s Xu Yuanzhen, had never learned these arts. Even Tang Xiaotang only received permission to study the Earth Book Talismanic Canon.

This knowledge had driven Lei Jun to explore related possibilities. His Five Thunder Talisman was an initial attempt.

Although his creation differed from the traditional Five Thunder Righteous Talisman, he viewed it as his version of Yang Five Thunder Righteous Method and Yin Five Thunder Righteous Method.

It was still rudimentary, but he could refine it over time.

For now, his immediate goal was to achieve Perfection in the Altar Stage and then advance to the Primal Talisman Stage.

Lei Jun’s mind was made up. But there was no need to rush.

First, the Tianshi Seal was about to resurface.

That day, thunder rumbled inexplicably over Mount Longhu once again.