Chapter 161: 160. Seeking Fortune and Avoiding Calamity, Steering Clear of Danger

Chapter 161: 160. Seeking Fortune and Avoiding Calamity, Steering Clear of Danger

Internal strife was brewing within the Chu family.

Chu Yu and her father, the elderly head of the Chu family, were engaged in a heated dispute.

Lei Jun pondered this newfound information, deep in thought.

The Chu family of Suzhou was one of the prestigious Five Families and Seven Nobles of the current era. Their elderly patriarch was highly respected in Jiangnan and had once served as a chancellor in the Tang court, making him a prominent figure.

This was during the time of the previous Tang Emperor, the father of Emperor Zhang Qilong and Empress Zhang Wantong.

Although the elderly patriarch of the Chu family had retired and returned to his hometown, people still addressed him as the "Elder of the Chu State" out of habit.

Chu Yu was the precious daughter born to him in his old age, doted on like a pearl in his palm. Thus, despite her young age, she held a high position and seniority within the Chu family.

Of course, Chu Yu herself was also exceptionally talented. At a young age, she had attained the level of a Seventh Heaven Scholar, renowned as the number one talent of Jiangnan, and had earned a place in the core leadership of the Chu family, becoming one of their pillars.

However, the current dispute between Chu Yu and her father was causing quite a stir, and if the news was true, it warranted serious attention.

The disagreement between the two was certainly not due to Chu Yu going through a rebellious or turbulent phase.

As a high-level cultivator who could participate in the Chu family's decision-making process, such a fierce argument would likely be related to a critical choice facing the family.

Lei Jun wondered if it had something to do with the recent movements of the Prince of Wu or some other reason.

Among the noble families, the Chu family of Suzhou maintained a relatively amicable relationship with the Celestial Masters' Mansion of Dragon and Tiger Mountain.

Any changes within the Chu family could potentially impact the Celestial Masters' Mansion, which was currently engaged in a fierce battle with the Lin family of Jiangzhou.

Lei Jun's thoughts raced, but he maintained a calm demeanor and replied casually, "A dispute between the Master of Yue Hall and the head of the Chu family? I haven't heard about this before. Thank you for bringing this to my attention."

"You're welcome. We all get what we need," Monday replied.

Despite their interaction, a mutual wariness persisted among the four of them.

After concluding their transaction, aside from Monday's casual conversation, the other three remained tight-lipped. They bade each other farewell and ended the meeting.

In the following days, Lei Jun continued his daily inspections of the Immortal Stream Palace while also focusing on his cultivation.

Refining the Grand Five Phases of Primordial Qi was a lengthy process.

However, this process did not hinder Lei Jun's progress in improving his cultivation level.

On the contrary, as he continually refined the Grand Five Phases of Primordial Qi, the mutual corroboration accelerated the other process of nourishing the five viscera and refining the five phases to produce the five qi.

One day, after concluding his cultivation practice, Lei Jun set out to inspect Immortal Stream Mountain once more.

Soon, a group of people approached from the east.

They were all disciples of the Celestial Masters' Mansion.

Their task was to transport a new batch of Immortal Stream Ink, Five Qi Stones, and other supplies back to the ancestral court of Dragon and Tiger Mountain.

Lately, there had been fewer incursions by the Lin family on Immortal Stream Mountain, but the war between the two factions had intensified.

In addition to both sides committing more and more forces to the main battlefield in Poyang Lake, there were also increasing clashes near their respective lairs—the ancestral court of Dragon and Tiger Mountain and the opposing ancestral land in Jiangzhou.

While the cloud carriages were swift, they were also large and easily targeted.

Even if they weren't attacked, as long as the Lin family disciples disrupted the flow of spiritual qi in the air, it could cause the cloud carriages to lose control.

Therefore, the Celestial Masters' Mansion had stopped using cloud carriages for direct transportation to and from their various branch courts, opting instead to dispatch reliable disciples in small groups to handle the deliveries.

This particular group was also tasked with replenishing the large amount of resources consumed by Lei Jun and the others stationed at the Immortal Stream Palace.

Lei Jun instructed Yun Zhan and the other disciples remaining at the Immortal Stream Palace to immediately inventory the materials and spiritual objects they had on hand and entrust them to their fellow disciples from the ancestral court to take back.

However, at that moment, a light bulb flashed in Lei Jun's brain, and words appeared:

["Diverging paths, hidden fortunes and dangers, Buddhist and Taoist divisions, self-determined blessings and misfortunes."]



Lei Jun was slightly taken aback, and then he saw three oracle slips flying out of the light bulb, which appeared one by one in his consciousness:

"Upper-middle grade task: Escort the transport team to the north foot of Qing Peak for a while and gain a fifth-grade opportunity. There is no danger, but it may involve entangled cause and effect, altering fortunes and misfortunes, and guiding the trend. Minor troubles may arise, but they can also be eliminated. Auspicious."

"Middle Ground: Do not intervene, remain at Immortal Stream Palace. It is not wrong to take no action; nothing is gained, and nothing is lost, thus remaining neutral."

"Lower-middle Omen: Escort the transport team to the vicinity of Jiuyuan Lake, no benefits gained, encounter danger and hidden troubles, inauspicious."

The north foot of Dqing Peak...

Jiuyuan Lake...

Both were possible routes back to Dragon and Tiger Mountain from Immortal Stream Mountain.

Due to the ongoing war, many places had become unsafe.

As a result, despite the vastness of the land, the number of suitable routes from Immortal Stream Mountain back to Dragon and Tiger Mountain had diminished.

The areas around the north foot of Dqing Peak and Jiuyuan Lake were considered relatively safe paths at the moment.

According to Lei Jun's knowledge, the transport team had taken the Dqing Peak route when they came from Dragon and Tiger Mountain to Immortal Stream Mountain.

"Self-determined blessings and misfortunes...

No danger...

But there may be hidden troubles, and depending on subsequent developments, the troubles may also be eliminated..."

Lei Jun quickly summarized the key points of the upper-middle cultivation method.

After a moment of contemplation, he asked the Celestial Masters' Mansion disciple leading the team, "Which route are you planning to take on your return journey?"

With no other Immortal Stream Palace disciples around and given Lei Jun's unique situation, there was no risk of information leakage, so the disciple candidly replied, "We took the Dqing Peak route on our way here, and we plan to take the Jiuyuan Lake route on our way back."

The lower-middle Dantian route... Lei Jun thought.

Encounter danger and hidden troubles, with no gains to speak of.

Aside from not being a guaranteed death trap, it was as bad as it could get.

"When I was patrolling the mountain a while ago, I vaguely sensed a surge of demonic energy and evil aura around Jiuyuan Lake," Lei Jun said. "Although it was faint and quickly dissipated, we shouldn't let our guard down."

The Celestial Masters' Mansion disciple's expression turned solemn. "Is that so?

"

He didn't doubt Lei Jun, but he couldn't help but sigh in frustration. "In that case, we have even fewer paths to choose from when traveling between Xianliu Mountain and Dragon Tiger Mountain."

Of course, this was a relative matter.

If it wasn't necessary, then temporarily enduring and halting the transfer of supplies was also an option.

And if it was necessary, then some risks had to be taken to venture into less secure areas.

"Just in case, we'll also need to take the route on the north side of Dqing Peak on our return journey." The Celestial Master's disciple suggested.

Lei Jun seemed to ponder for a moment before speaking, "We can delay the delivery of the Five Qi Stones and other items. The sect is running low on Immortal Stream Ink, so we can't afford any losses this time. How about this, I'll escort you for a portion of the journey."

The disciple was delighted to hear this.

Although Lei Jun was young, he had already attained the Fifth Heaven realm in his cultivation.

In the Celestial Masters' Mansion of Dragon Tiger Mountain, his cultivation level was already considered high.

Some of the younger disciples and the Daoists from the Daoist Academy below the mountain addressed him as Daoist Lei out of respect, and gradually, some began to address him as Elder Lei.

If not for his young age and limited experience, he would have already been recognized as Elder Lei.

If he were to leave the mountain, Daoist Lei would have the qualifications to establish his own sect, expanding the influence of the Celestial Masters' Mansion and becoming the leader of a new branch.

Having Lei Jun escort them brought a sense of relief to the group of Celestial Masters' disciples.

However, the disciple soon hesitated, "But, Daoist Lei, if you leave, what about the Immortal Stream Palace...?"

Lei Jun reassured them, "I won't make my presence known. I'll stay hidden within the group, and we'll keep this matter confidential. If there are no unexpected events, I'll escort you past Dqing Peak, and then I'll return to the Immortal Stream Palace. There are no signs of enemies nearby, and we have some time to spare."

The disciple was overjoyed, "That's perfect!"

Lei Jun's suggestion sounded familiar to him, and he soon realized that it was similar to the strategy employed by Lei Jun's esteemed master, Yuan Mobai.

Although Yuan Mobai had left Dragon Tiger Mountain, his whereabouts were often uncertain, allowing him to assist and respond to various branches of the sect.

Lei Jun, on the other hand, secretly traveled back and forth without officially leaving the Immortal Stream Palace.

After discussing the plan, the group set out on their journey.

Only three ordained disciples, including Yun Zhan, were aware of the situation at the Immortal Stream Palace, and they promised to keep it a secret, awaiting Lei Jun's safe return.

Lei Jun changed out of his deep red Daoist robe, which he had worn after receiving his ordination, and donned the apricot-yellow robe of a transmitted disciple.

With his advanced cultivation, he could even control his physical body, making temporary changes to his appearance. He reduced his tall and imposing stature to a more average height, concealing his presence as he blended into the crowd.

The group set off, leaving Xianliu Mountain and heading back.

Lei Jun walked quietly among them, his senses alert to their surroundings, with a portion of his attention focused on the south.

That direction led to Jiuyuan Lake.

Although it was far beyond their visual range and sensory perception, the danger foretold by the lower-middle sign was unlikely to be a minor disturbance.

In the afternoon...

"Boom!"

A deafening explosion suddenly came from the south, shaking the heavens and the earth.

Lei Jun and the others immediately stopped and looked in that direction.

Based on their estimation, the sound seemed to be coming from the area of Jiuyuan Lake.

The weather had been clear, but now dark clouds gathered in the southern sky, and a thin line of black smoke rose into the heavens, an ominous sight.

The Celestial Masters' disciples, who cultivated spiritual energy and sought enlightenment, felt a sense of oppression as they gazed upon the sky, half of which was shrouded in darkness.

The disciple leading the group, Zhou Zihang, muttered, "Demonic energy and evil aura..."

Lei Jun's warning had been right!

There was indeed a powerful demon lurking near Jiuyuan Lake.

Lei Jun focused his senses on the south, and he could see beneath the dark clouds a faint glimmer of a crystalline aura, like the soft glow of a Buddhist luminescence rising and flickering on the horizon.

It seemed that a Buddhist monk was engaged in a fierce battle with the demon.

The danger and hidden perils mentioned in the lower-middle sign were likely related to this confrontation.

If Zhou Zihang and the others had approached unknowingly, they might have stumbled into the demon's lair or been caught in the crossfire of the battle.

For the current Lei Jun, even though the combatants were both at the Upper Third Heaven level, as long as he remained cautious, the aftermath of their battle was unlikely to affect him.

However, the fact that a lower-middle sign with potential danger had appeared for the Jiuyuan Lake area suggested that there might be more hidden dangers and risks there.

"Daoist Lei, thanks to your warning, we avoided walking into a trap," Zhou Zihang said, still feeling a sense of lingering fear as he looked at the dark clouds that covered half of the southern sky.

"I wasn't sure there would be such a powerful demon, but it's always better to be cautious," Lei Jun replied.

Zhou Zihang and the others nodded in agreement.

As they were about to say something more, they noticed that Lei Jun's expression had turned even more solemn.

"We're under attack."

Lei Jun turned his head toward the direction of Dqing Peak, "This time, it's not a demon, but humans."

"Are they from the Lin family?" Zhou Zihang and the others knew that Lei Jun's cultivation and strength gave him a wider range of perception.

Suddenly, a small patch of dark clouds rose from the distant mountains.

The clouds rose into the sky and then descended, enveloping the group of Celestial Masters' disciples.

It was a dense shower of arrows, thrown from a distance.

Thanks to Lei Jun's warning, Zhou Zihang and the others remained calm despite the sudden attack. Golden spiritual lights and energies formed a barrier, as the Golden Lock Talismans, a renowned technique of the Celestial Masters' Mansion, activated.

The arrows struck the golden light barrier, causing it to tremble violently as it withstood the intense assault. These arrows were no ordinary projectiles.

They were imbued with the righteous qi of Confucian divine archers, enhancing their range and lethality far beyond that of ordinary arrows.

However, the Golden Lock Talisman, a famous spiritual charm of the Celestial Masters' Mansion, held strong despite the tremors, successfully repelling the first wave of arrow attacks.

Without needing to say a word, the group of Celestial Masters' disciples scattered instinctively, forming pairs or trios as they rushed forward into the mountains, closing in on their attackers.

Zhou Zihang turned back instinctively, but he couldn't spot Lei Jun's figure anywhere. He wondered when Lei Jun had disappeared and where he had gone.

Distracted by his astonishment, Lei Jun almost took an arrow to the chest. He quickly refocused, paying attention to the enemy ahead.

As they drew closer, Zhou Zihang and the other Celestial Masters' disciples wasted no time, unleashing their spiritual charms.

Generally speaking, the basic spiritual charms of the Celestial Masters' Mansion disciples were intricate, but their range was limited.

Yet, Zhou Zihang and the others cast their charms from a great distance.

Streaks of flame, sparse and scattered, soared into the sky, engaging in a long-range battle with the Lin family disciples lying in ambush.

But as those flames descended, they ignited explosions that swept through the area.

It was the Flying Fire Charm, Lei Jun's invention.

Although Lei Jun himself was nowhere to be seen, the spiritual charms he created remained with his fellow disciples.

Having adapted to the new charms, the Celestial Masters' Mansion disciples now skillfully unleashed the Flying Fire Charms, their aim true and deadly.

Multiple Flying Fire Charms were released simultaneously, concentrating their attack and transforming the area where the arrows had rained down into a sea of flames.

However, the Lin family, a lineage with a long and illustrious history, quickly adapted to the Celestial Masters' disciples' "new weapons" after their initial setback.

In the aftermath of the first wave of arrows, a group of Lin family disciples from the Confucian divine archers' lineage scattered, each seeking a new position and angle from which to strike.

Meanwhile, other Lin family disciples charged downhill, engaging Zhou Zihang and the Celestial Masters' Mansion disciples in close combat, creating opportunities for their fellow clansmen, the divine archers.

As the distance between the two forces closed, Zhou Zihang and his companions showed no mercy.

One group conserved their spiritual power and continued their forward charge.

Another group unveiled yet another new basic spiritual charm invented by Lei Jun.

The Continuous Blaze Charm.

Fewer disciples activated this charm compared to the Flying Fire Charm, but the resulting spectacle was even more impressive.

Several Continuous Blaze Charms were scattered, and instantly, fiery explosions engulfed the area, creating a blazing inferno that spread and raged with incredible intensity.

However, the Lin family was a prestigious clan with a deep heritage, their scholarly arts unparalleled by other lineages.

The Lin family disciples who specialized in Confucian teachings and sword techniques unleashed their sword auras, as cold as the vast river, yet capable of infinite variations.

The ethereal and vast sword aura transformed into a condensed and compressed force, resembling an immovable boulder standing steadfast in the midst of a mighty river, unyielding to the currents.

It was the Lin family's renowned Heart of the River Sword technique.

This formidable skill combined offense and defense, the condensed sword aura forming an impenetrable barrier that shielded them from the relentless blaze.

However, the fire raged with such intensity that it seemed capable of cracking open rocks.

The Lin family disciples' refined sword intent and aura were gradually overwhelmed and shattered by the relentless inferno.

The Lin family of Jiangzhou and the Celestial Masters' Mansion of Dragon and Tiger Mountain had been longtime rivals, their clashes spanning countless years.

Under normal circumstances, the Lin family's Heart of the River Sword could withstand the Celestial Masters' Mansion disciples' Blaze Charms of the same level.

But now, they faced the Continuous Blaze Charm.

Their defenses shattered by the Continuous Blaze Charm, they were further assaulted by Celestial Masters' Mansion disciples wielding Wind Riding, Divine Strike, and Heaven Shaking Charms, enduring a relentless second wave of attacks.

"Lin Zongquan?!''

Zhou Zihang, wielding a law ruler, clashed with a Lin family disciple, his eyes widening in fury as he recognized his opponent. "You'll pay for killing my junior martial brother!"

The two of them shared a bitter history, as Zhou Zihang's junior martial brother had fallen to this very Lin family disciple.

"You'll soon be reuniting with him," Lin Zongquan said with a smile, undaunted by the Continuous Blaze Charm's attack and the approaching Celestial Masters' Mansion disciple, Zhou Zihang.

Facing Zhou Zihang, Lin Zongquan didn't retreat but instead took the initiative, his sword dancing with renewed agility, transforming from a rigid boulder to a flowing stream.

His sword aura, once condensed, now flowed continuously, its momentum surging like a cascading waterfall, growing more turbulent by the second.

It was the Lin family's renowned Mount Lu Triple Cascade Sword technique.

The other Lin family disciples remained calm and collected.

They had already witnessed the power of the Flying Fire and Continuous Blaze Charms.

The reason they persevered despite the odds was not because they were isolated but because they were buying time and creating opportunities for their fellow clansmen, the divine archers.

Their perseverance paid off.

From within the forest, the Lin family divine archers, having repositioned themselves, unleashed another volley of arrows.

However, the number of arrows and their intensity fell far short of expectations.

Zhou Zihang and the Celestial Masters' Mansion disciples, though vigilant against the arrows, felt a significant reduction in pressure.

"What's going on?!" The Confucian scholarly masters, including Lin Zongquan, who were engaged in close combat, cursed inwardly.

If not for their familial ties, they would have cursed their fellow clansmen's ancestors.

Amid the chaos, Lin Zongquan spared a glance backward, his eyes nearly popping out of their sockets.

He spotted one of his junior clansmen from the divine archers' lineage, but as their eyes met, he saw a figure in apricot-yellow robes appear behind his clansman.

The figure, like a ghost, reached out and silently grasped his clansman's head.

With a slight twist...

Lin Zongquan stood there, dumbfounded, as he watched his clansman's head twist to the side and his body crumple to the ground, a blank expression frozen on his face.

Behind his clansman stood a Celestial Masters' Mansion disciple in yellow robes.

The yellow-robed disciple's movements were effortless and graceful, devoid of any hint of aggression. It was as if he had simply passed by and casually snapped the divine archer's neck as he walked, his footsteps unfaltering as he quietly moved on to his next target.

Although there was some commotion, it was far calmer than what was happening at Jiuyuan Lake... Lei Jun calmly approached another Lin family divine archer from behind.

"Crack."

Another Lin family disciple fell silently in the forest.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end