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Chapter 113: A Three-Star Opportunity and a Single Page Book
Chapter 113: A Three-Star Opportunity and a Single Page Book
Lei Jun's curiosity was piqued as he gazed down at the deep valley below, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "Could it be down there?"
Violent gusts of wind surged upward from the fissure in the valley below, carrying with them the fierce energy of the earth's veins.
Lei Jun took a few steps back, giving the unruly energies some space to vent. He scanned his surroundings, his gaze sweeping across the vicinity of the Qiro Valley.
Aside from the violent winds, there were no other signs of activity or anomalies nearby. However, on the main peak, instead of any significant disturbances, faint glimmers of treasure light could be seen flickering in the distance.
Lei Jun had no intention of venturing toward the main peak. Even though the fortune stick's message didn't seem to indicate a strict time limit, the changes in Qiro Valley were enough to deter him from taking any unnecessary detours.
It wasn't that he looked down on the potential eight-star opportunity that might be awaiting him at the main peak. But if, by going there, he missed out on the three-star opportunity in Qiro Valley, it would be a net loss.
The difference in value between a three-star and an eight-star opportunity was clear. Moreover, the main peak might also bring some trouble.
From what he could discern, the current trouble didn't seem to be a natural disaster caused by the disturbance in the earth veins. So, it was most likely man-made?
The fortune stick indicated a moderate level of luck, suggesting that as long as there weren't any major unexpected events, Lei Jun wouldn't face any life-threatening dangers.
However, Lei Jun had no desire to test his luck by deliberately seeking out trouble. He preferred to secure the upper-level fortune stick's opportunity without taking unnecessary risks.
Of course, what constituted danger to him might not be the same for the disciples of the Jade River Sect. Thus, Lei Jun felt compelled to offer them a word of warning. Whether they heeded his advice or not was up to them.
As the turbulent spiritual energy rushing out of the fissure in the valley before him gradually calmed, Lei Jun wasted no more time in hesitation. After a final glance at his surroundings, he leaped down into the fissure.
The darkness that enveloped him was overwhelming, but Lei Jun didn't immediately create any lightning or fire to illuminate his path. Instead, he casually tossed out several spirit talismans.
Only after leaving his hands did the talismans ignite, emitting a radiant glow. While the light they provided wasn't enough to dispel the darkness completely, it was sufficient for Lei Jun to regain his sight temporarily.
After a thorough search yielded no discoveries, Lei Jun continued to venture deeper. As he descended, the resistance he faced grew stronger.
The chaotic flow of spiritual energy seemed to resist his downward progress, and from time to time, vortices would form, threatening to pull him downward with accelerating force.
Lei Jun steadied himself, maintaining his balance as he continued his search while moving downward. Suddenly, without any need for him to create his own light source, faint glimmers of light began to appear in the extreme depths below.
As he drew closer, Lei Jun was astonished to discover what appeared to be an underground river of some sort. However, this river wasn't composed of water but of the earth's veins—a tumultuous, chaotic flow of energy.
The rushing currents of earth energy resembled a mighty river, flowing endlessly. Lei Jun looked to one side, unable to discern its source, and then to the other, unable to see its end.
"The flow of earth vein spiritual energy usually follows certain pathways, but most of the time, it nourishes silently." Lei Jun observed carefully, "This kind of concentrated and frenzied state is quite rare."
It didn't seem natural; instead, it seemed more likely to be the result of human influence.
The point of contact with the earth veins might not necessarily be within Youpeng Mountain itself; it could be somewhere nearby or even in a distant location.
The flow of the earth veins was akin to the meridians in a human body—profound and intricate. A slight disturbance in one place could potentially affect the whole network.
Two seemingly unrelated locations might be connected in ways that were not immediately apparent. Conversely, a mountain and a river that appeared to be closely intertwined might have no correlation at all.
The intricacies of these phenomena were such that even the most powerful cultivators in the Upper Three Heavens would find them challenging to fully grasp.
If there was one person who could most easily influence the earth veins and the fortune of the country, it was undoubtedly the current emperor of the Great Tang Dynasty, who had risen to the pinnacle of power.
So, was it him causing these disturbances again? It was hard to say for sure...
This Emperor of the Tang Dynasty had already made several major moves recently.
Were the noble houses and prominent families completely unprepared to deal with this?
For some reason, the image of Ye Cheng's gentle smile flashed through Lei Jun's mind.
Ye Cheng, on his own, was certainly not enough to compete with the Emperor in this regard. But he never acted solely on his own behalf.
Confucianism was the most prominent school of thought in the current era, surpassing Taoism, Buddhism, martial arts, and shamanism.
In the Great Tang Dynasty, the power was shared between the emperor and the noble houses.
These two statements, widely circulated in the world, were not mere exaggerations or rhetorical flourishes. They were statements of objective fact.
The Tang Emperor had chosen his moment well.
One of the greatest noble houses, the Lin Clan of Jiangzhou, had lost its leader, causing a power vacuum and internal strife. This had weakened the power structure of the empire, creating a void that was drawing the attention and involvement of other powers.
The five surnames and seven hopes were all interrelated by marriage and alliances.
The reason why the position of the new leader of the Lin Clan remained undecided was largely due to the external support each candidate received from powerful backers.
Other noble houses and prominent families naturally hoped that the new leader of the Lin Clan would be someone they could get along with.
...If their power within the Celestial Masters' Mansion was as deeply entrenched as it was here, then the position of the new Celestial Master would also attract a lot of attention.
As the Lin Clan of Jiangzhou caused a ripple effect throughout the empire, the Tang Emperor made his move.
However, the other influential clans were not to be underestimated, especially when it came to their relationship with the imperial family of the Great Tang Dynasty.
The Tang Emperor might not always get his way... Lei Jun shook his head slightly, reining in his wandering thoughts.
Suddenly, a flash of insight crossed his mind, and he sensed something amiss.
Upon closer inspection, he noticed a faint glimmer of spirit light flashing through the rushing river of earth vein spiritual energy before him, moving along with the current.
The spirit light was subtle and did not seem particularly intense.
However, Lei Jun felt a strong urge to intercept it.
Without hesitation, he acted on his impulse.
With a flick of his wrist, he unleashed the Soil-Creating Banner, and the murky spirit light in the air condensed into a large amount of spirit soil, tangling together like a rope and plunging into the chaotic river of spiritual energy.
The violent current caused the spirit soil to scatter, but the banner continued to emit its light, relentlessly forming more spirit soil that stubbornly reformed into a whip-like shape.
Then, it successfully captured the fleeting spirit light!
With another lift of Lei Jun's hand, the banner retracted the spirit light from the river, bringing it to rest securely before him.
"What a catch!" Lei Jun exclaimed. "Reminds me of the time I fished out the Fire Marrow Sunfish. Good thing I never run out of bait."
With the spirit light secured, Lei Jun refrained from direct contact and instead chose to observe it carefully.
The spirit light flickered incessantly, and when it was in the river, it seemed unremarkable and untouched.
But now that Lei Jun had "fished" it out, its radiance became more vibrant and lively.
Moreover, it exuded an incredibly awe-inspiring spirituality, emitting a sense of aggression and danger.
It wasn't that the spirit light held any ill will towards Lei Jun, but the principles and insights contained within it inherently possessed such qualities.
It was like nature itself, capable of both calm and serene beauty, as well as thunderous and furious storms.
Lei Jun's curiosity grew as he witnessed this transformation.
After further observation, he finally decided to interact with the mysterious treasure physically.
As soon as his spiritual power made contact with the spirit light, it underwent another change.
The flickering light condensed into a tangible form—a single page of a book.
Thin as a cicada's wing and square in shape, the page was opaque and devoid of any writing, emitting only a faint glow.
Yet, as Lei Jun gazed upon this peculiar page, he sensed the profound and intricate principles embedded within.
"Is this a page from some grand daoist tome?" Lei Jun's curiosity deepened.
There was only one page before him, but the uppermost lucky draw had hinted at the possibility of further developments and expansions to this opportunity.
Did this mean that the single page itself might undergo more changes, or were there other pages hidden somewhere, waiting to be discovered?
Lei Jun furrowed his brows in contemplation, then waved his hand, using the Soil-Creating Banner to temporarily secure the mysterious page.
His figure then rose above the chaotic spiritual energy of the rift valley, ascending towards the open sky outside.
The situation here was volatile, and the disturbance in the earth veins might have been artificially induced.
It was best to leave this place for now.
He could study the single page later when the environment was more stable and he had more free time.
Fortunately, according to the description on the uppermost lucky draw, this three-star opportunity, without considering any further expansions, seemed to be free of immediate dangers or hidden pitfalls.
In other words, not only was it ownerless, but it was also likely unknown to anyone else.
Even the person who had caused the disturbance in the earth veins might be unaware of its existence.
Their intention was probably focused on creating the disturbance itself, and the appearance of this single page was a coincidental byproduct.
If not for the disturbance in the earth veins, this page would never have flowed through the underground of Qiro Valley in Youpeng Mountain.
And now, Lei Jun had once again succeeded through his patient vigilance.
Exiting the deep valley, Lei Jun emerged into the open once more.
The terrifying spectacle of the heavens and earth in turmoil had faded, and Youpeng Mountain had returned to its peaceful state.
However, the aftermath of the spiritual energy rushing out of the rift earlier could still be felt, as the entire mountain range was now enveloped in chaotic spiritual currents, swirling invisibly across the land.
Lei Jun looked around.
On the main peak, the radiant treasure light had disappeared, indicating that someone had likely claimed the treasure.
Qiro Valley, once serene, was now fractured and scarred due to the formation of the rift valley.
Lei Jun sighed softly and took out three branch incense sticks.
He offered one to the sky above, another to the earth veins below, and the last one to the valley that had brought him two opportunities, now lying in ruins.
After ensuring that he had all his belongings, he prepared to leave Qiro Valley, where he had lingered for several days.
However...
"Hmm?"
Lei Jun's eyes narrowed, and all traces of sentimentality vanished, replaced by heightened alertness.
There were others who were entering Qiro Valley.
Given the current situation, they were more likely to be foes than friends.
Lei Jun's expression remained calm as he skillfully concealed his presence among the vast mountains and forests.
Wind and Thunder Talisman, Night Wind.
Infiltrating the night with the wind, silently moisturizing everything.
As expected, someone soon arrived at Qiro Valley.
Lei Jun noticed that instead of rushing directly into the valley, they were taking a more cautious approach.
A few individuals climbed over the mountains and hid their presence as they made their way to the valley from different directions.
They spread out in the mountains, each choosing a position that was both concealed and offered a clear view of the valley, effectively surrounding and monitoring it from multiple angles.
Then, several more people entered the valley from the main entrance.
Most of those traveling through the mountains were dressed in tight-fitting clothing, and from their attire, they seemed to be Confucian cultivators.
Leading them was a middle-aged Confucian scholar whose eyes scanned the valley like lightning.
At first glance, he couldn't find the target he was looking for, and his gaze eventually landed on the huge fissure at the bottom of the valley.
"Where is he?" The middle-aged Confucian turned to look behind him.
Following him were several young men dressed as Confucian scholars, guarding a young acolyte in a gray robe.
Lei Jun recognized him as the acolyte from the Jade River Sect, He Bin.
"This morning, we separated here, and that Lei Daoist was still here at the time. Now..." He Bin hesitated, his gaze also falling on the large fissure at the bottom of the valley, his expression hopeful yet uncertain. "Perhaps... he's down there?"
One of the young Confucian scholars beside him scolded impatiently, "If you dare to lie to us, you won't get away with it!"
He Bin tried to appease them, "How could I dare deceive the esteemed gentlemen of the Gao Family of Zezhou?"
The Gao Family of Zezhou...
Lei Jun had come across this name before in his readings on Dragon-Tiger Mountain. They were considered a powerful force in Northern Zezhou, second only to the Five Surnames and Seven Hopes.
In terms of influence and strength, they may not have matched the Five Surnames, but they were undoubtedly one of the most prominent aristocratic families in the Great Tang Dynasty.
Furthermore, the Zezhou Gao Family had deep connections with the Ye Clan of Jinzhou, making them staunch allies.
The middle-aged Confucian scholar frowned and glanced at the young scholar, "If it weren't for your rash behavior earlier, killing that acolyte from the Jade River Sect, we could have extracted more information from him."
The young scholar lowered his head, "I apologize for my mistake."
Although the middle-aged Confucian was reprimanding his son, his words only served to make He Bin even more terrified.
He deeply regretted his decision to follow Chen Xi to the main peak of Youpeng Mountain.
He had hoped for an opportunity to stand out, but instead, he had almost lost his life in the process.
Chen Xi had been killed during their attempt to resist.
He Bin had only survived by begging for mercy and revealing various pieces of intelligence.
It was clear that these people were more interested in Lei Jun.
As one of the most promising young disciples of the Celestial Masters' Mansion, Lei Jun's talent and rapid progress in cultivation had marked him as a potential future powerhouse.
However, he now found himself alone in these desolate mountains.
While he had immense potential, his current strength was only at the Fourth Heaven.
The middle-aged Confucian scholar made a quick decision and ordered He Bin to guide them to Qiro Valley, hoping to get lucky.
One of his companions suggested, "Uncle San, perhaps that Lei, the young bull, is hiding beneath this rift valley? Should we go down and look for him?"
The middle-aged Confucian scholar shook his head, "Even if he's young, he's already a Fourth Heaven cultivator and an ordained disciple of the Celestial Masters' Mansion. We must not underestimate him. Let's wait up here for now. If he emerges from the valley, we can make our move then."
He surveyed the valley, "This chaos has disrupted the spiritual energy in the surrounding area, which could interfere with the connection between the ordained disciples of the Celestial Masters' Mansion and their headquarters on Dragon-Tiger Mountain, making it easier for us to act.
However, it's unfortunate that our ability to communicate with the outside world has also been affected. Otherwise, we could have gathered more people to assist us."
Fortunately, they had other allies...
"Those bull-nosed monks and that other group... they shouldn't exist in this world!"
One of the Gao Family members added, "If it weren't for their heretical teachings misleading the people, the world would be a much calmer place without all these disturbances."
The middle-aged Confucian scholar instructed, "Enough idle chatter. Spread out and get ready. Keep a close eye on the surroundings!"
The group acknowledged and dispersed, taking up positions to monitor the fissure at the bottom of the valley.
In the mountains, the Gao Family cultivators in hunting attire drew their bows and arrows, occupying key positions to keep watch over the valley below.
Time passed without any signs of movement.
Perhaps, that Lei Daoist had already left?
The Gao Family archer wondered, but his arms remained steady, and the arrow tip did not waver.
However...
A short stick, thick on one end and thin on the other, was held high in someone's hand as they silently approached the Gao Family archer from above.
Lei Jun remained calm as he brought the stick down, striking the archer on the back of his head.
(End of Chapter)
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