Chapter 184: 183. The Seven Luminaries Gather

Chapter 184: 183. The Seven Luminaries Gather

After the light ball flickered and revealed the text, two fortune sticks flew out:

> "Upper-middle fortune. Calm your mind and cultivate patiently without rushing. Go with the flow and you will obtain a fifth-grade opportunity. There is no danger or future troubles. Auspicious."

> "Middle fortune. Actively seek connections with the Tang court and you will find a way to advance. You will obtain a sixth-grade opportunity. There is no current danger, but it may cause future troubles. Entangled karma. Neutral."

After reading these two fortunes, Lei Jun felt a bit perplexed.

The fortunes were considerate.

The upper-middle fortune that matched his wishes was even better.

But it was so fortuitous that it made him feel uneasy.

Lei Jun's heart complained, but his expression remained unchanged, and he showed a hint of regret, "My master has assigned me a task these days, so I can only regretfully miss this opportunity."

Lin Shan nodded, "Prioritize important matters. Then, take care of your business."

After seeing Lin Shan off, Lei Jun continued his daily routine. During the day, he went to the High Achievement Pavilion to assist his master, Yuan Mo Bai, in managing the sect's affairs. At night, he focused on his personal cultivation.

As the days drew closer, more and more imperial forces from the Tang court arrived at Dragon and Tiger Mountain ahead of time to prepare for the imperial visit.

Lei Jun cooperated normally with the official receptions but kept a low profile and avoided interacting with the imperial family of the Tang court.

That night, approaching midnight, Lei Jun temporarily paused his cultivation and made preparations and safeguards. He immersed his consciousness deep into his soul.

Within the True One Altar Cave, derived from the Heavenly Master Seal, a page of the Heavenly Book floated in mid-air, glowing.

Lei Jun's consciousness entered, as if stepping into a vast, illusory starry universe.

Over the past two days, he had reached an agreement with Sunday, Monday, and Thursday, and they had agreed to meet online again tonight.

Lei Jun arrived a little late.

After the bright Venus, representing him, lit up, he scanned the starry sky and saw that the lights of Sunday, Monday, and Thursday were already glowing, indicating that the other three had arrived one after another.

However, none of the three spoke at that moment.

Neither did Lei Jun.

Because, tonight, three other luminaries unexpectedly lit up as well.

The previously dim Wednesday, Tuesday, and Saturday, which indicated that they had no owners, finally had masters?

Lei Jun thought that they would come one after the other, but it turned out that the three came together... He pondered this development.

When he first arrived, it seemed that he and Thursday had come at the same time.

Lei Jun's gaze swept across Wednesday, Tuesday, and Saturday, and then back to Sunday, Monday, and Thursday.

"We have three new friends here. Welcome, welcome." Monday was the first to greet them, as always.

A voice came from Tuesday, "Where is this place? Who are all of you?"

In the starry sky, everyone's voices sounded similar, and it was difficult to distinguish gender.

However, it was still possible to tell that Tuesday's tone was rather cheerful.

Nonetheless, Lei Jun remained calm.

As the old saying goes, when you're "screening," who knows if the person on the other side is human or a dog?

Just like when he and Thursday first met, Monday took the initiative to greet the newcomers and introduce the situation here.

Lei Jun, Sunday, and Thursday remained silent, implicitly agreeing with Monday's actions.

However, in the middle of the conversation, Tuesday suddenly interrupted, "I have something urgent to attend to. I'll leave first and chat with you all later!"

After saying that, the star representing Tuesday quickly dimmed, indicating that its owner had left.

Lei Jun found this interesting.

According to the numerical correspondence with the seven luminaries, Tuesday was likely corresponding to Heavenly Book·Six.

Lei Jun remembered that he had previously chatted with his senior sister, Xu Yuanzhen, and she had mentioned that she had once hidden herself with a page of the Heavenly Book.

It was Heavenly Book·Six.

Now that this page of the Heavenly Book had found a new owner, Lei Jun wondered who it was.

Judging from their words and actions, they seemed a bit hasty and immature, but he couldn't be sure if they were genuinely like that or if it was just an act. In comparison, Wednesday and Saturday's performance was similar to his and Thursday's when they first arrived—they chose to remain silent and observe first.

The four "old birds" didn't mind and continued with their original plan.

"Now that everyone is here, I have a proposal. Let's join forces to explore this book-like universe."

Monday smiled, "Of course. Let's wait for Tuesday to return. With seven people together, we can advance and retreat as one. Today, let's continue as usual, focusing on exchange and mutual assistance. What do you all think?"

Sunday asked, "Then let's begin. I still have the same question as before. Does anyone know the whereabouts of Wei Ancheng, the leader of the Blood River Sect?"

The news had gradually spread that Wei Ancheng had suddenly appeared in Youzhou in the Northern Territory and directly caused the death of Master Lianyuan, the abbot of the Bodhi Temple.

Sunday was obviously asking about Wei Ancheng's subsequent movements after assassinating Master Lianyuan.

Monday asked, "I want to inquire about the mysterious expert who ambushed the former Celestial Master, Li Qingfeng, on the Great River six years ago and attacked Li Hongyu on Dragon and Tiger Mountain today, six years later. Does anyone know their identity?"

Upon hearing this, Lei Jun's heart stirred.

Then he heard Thursday chime in, "I'm also interested in this person's identity."

Lei Jun finally spoke up, "So am I."

Newcomer Saturday said, "I don't know the answers to your questions, so I can't help you there."

Wednesday also replied, "I'm not sure either."

Monday smiled and said, "Our two new friends are still a bit reserved, but that's fine. There's a process to these things. If you have any questions, feel free to ask at any time. You can ask publicly or privately, but as I mentioned before, there are two prerequisites: sincerity and equality."

Wednesday said, "Thank you for your kindness, but I'll pass for now."

Despite his words, he fell silent.

Saturday, on the other hand, spoke up after some thought, "I have a question... Recently, the Celestial Master's Mansion on Dragon and Tiger Mountain erupted into internal strife again. Although it came suddenly, there were some clues beforehand. The root cause lies in the conflict between the Li family and the outsiders, and the trigger for the recent battle was the simultaneous breakthroughs of Li Hongyu and Tang Xiatang to the Eighth Heaven realm."

He asked, "These two Daoists are both outstanding talents of the Talisman Sect of the Daoist School. Their talents and abilities are well-known to the world, so it's not surprising that they have made further progress in their cultivation. However, the fact that they broke through at almost the same time is a bit too coincidental. I wonder if there's something more to it?"

Lei Jun listened quietly, his gaze calm as he glanced at Sunday.

Sunday remained silent after asking about Wei Ancheng, and now kept quiet once more.

Back then, when Lei Jun traded his scattered soul fragments for the Sun Gold Crystal from Sunday, he had some psychological preparation.

Although Pure Yang Palace stood at the forefront, as Tang Xiatang had borrowed the Sun Gold Crystal to break through to the Eighth Heaven realm, the origin and whereabouts of the Sun Gold Crystal could easily lead people to connect the dots.

However, Master Xu Yuanzhen had represented him during the trade, so Lei Jun was temporarily not worried about the clues pointing to him.

But regarding Saturday's question, Lei Jun also had some speculations in his heart.

Some of these thoughts were not very pleasant.

"Many secrets will probably be buried with Li Hongyu's death," Monday said.

Saturday: "There may be other informants."

After saying this, he didn't say more.

Because of the newcomers, everyone didn't delve into further detailed discussions.

After chatting a little longer, they seemed to want to end the conversation hastily.

However, after everyone dispersed, Lei Jun took the time to privately contact Thursday.

He got straight to the point, "Regarding the former abbot of Bodhi Temple, Master Lianyuan, going north to Youzhou in the Northern Territory, you mentioned this matter before. Did you want to stop it from happening at the time?"

Thursday: "It did happen. I just heard that Bodhi Temple intended to go north, so I shared the news with everyone."

Lei Jun: "I see."

He didn't say more and thus "logged off."

Lei Jun withdrew his consciousness from the depths of his soul, from within the True One Altar Cave.

He got up, pushed open the door, and stood in the courtyard, gazing up at the real starry sky of this world, deep in thought.

After a while, Lei Jun reined in his wandering thoughts and returned to his room to meditate, calming his mind and continuing his cultivation.

In two days, the Empress would officially arrive at Dragon and Tiger Mountain.

Shangguan Ning, Zhang Jingzhen, and Lin Shan accompanied Xiao Xueling as they left the mountain to welcome the Empress.

At noon, the dragon carriage appeared in the distant sky outside Dragon and Tiger Mountain.

A dragon carriage in the literal sense.

Although it was a flood dragon instead of a true dragon pulling the carriage, it was indeed driven by a dragon.

Compared to the formal imperial procession of the Tang Dynasty, the Empress's trip was indeed a light and simple one.

Even so, the spectacle was still grand.

Dragon and Tiger Mountain was also in full splendor, following all the proper rituals.

Led by the newly appointed Celestial Master, Tang Xiatang, all the high-achieving masters of the Dragon and Tiger Mountain were present.

The other elders and disciples who had received the jade tallies were also in attendance.

Today, Lei Jun finally saw the current ruler of the vast Tang Dynasty, the fifth Tang Emperor, Zhang Wantong.

A figure descended from the dragon carriage.

It was Zhang Wantong, the current sovereign of the Tang Dynasty's myriad miles of rivers and mountains, whose appearance and figure were perfect and captivating, with a majestic and flourishing presence.

However, her features were more angular and heroic than the average woman.

In Lei Jun's words, her appearance and figure perfectly represented the prosperous and flourishing landscape of the empire, embodying the essence of heaven and earth, as well as the vigor and splendor of the imperial dynasty.

...Although the current Tang Dynasty was in a tumultuous period.

But it was still far from being in a state of decline.

The key lay in the future developments.

However, compared to this Empress's somewhat flamboyant appearance, the radiance in her eyes was restrained, making it hard to fathom her true thoughts.

"She's okay for now. I don't sense any malicious intent, but it's hard to say. I can't quite see through her," was Tang Xiatang's private assessment to Lei Jun after welcoming the Empress.

Overall, she was indeed okay.

But that phrase, "I can't quite see through her," did give Lei Jun some food for thought.

Lei Jun's heart stirred, but his expression remained unchanged as he followed Tang Xiatang, Yuan Mobai, and the others in receiving this ruler of the Tang Dynasty.

………

After the great battle, the mountain gate of Dragon and Tiger Mountain had sustained some damage.

Fortunately, after some repairs, the mountain no longer looked dilapidated.

The Empress would stay overnight on the mountain, and her accommodations were naturally carefully arranged.

According to her wishes, the temporary palace was not set up on the main peak but by a lake below the main peak.

After meeting with Tang Xiatang, Yuan Mobai, and the others on the main peak, she retired to the palace for the night.

Now, as night deepened, the lakeside and the newly built pavilion in the middle of the lake were brightly lit.

Xiao Xueling arrived at the lake and walked across the plank road to the pavilion.

The palace maids serving in the pavilion greeted her with reverence.

Xiao Xueling smiled and nodded, then entered the pavilion.

There, a woman faced the lake, fishing, with a float bobbing on the water.

"Your Majesty," Xiao Xueling said with a relaxed posture and a smile as she greeted the Empress.

The fishing woman did not turn around, keeping her gaze on the lake as she casually asked, "What do you think?"

Xiao Xueling replied, "Elder Shangguan's disciple, Lin Daochang, is quite enthusiastic. Elder Yuan's disciple, Lei Daochang, is rather detached, and Elder Yao's disciple, Ke Daochang, is also enthusiastic, but he is still recovering from his injuries."

The fishing woman reeled in her line, "What about your thoughts on Lei Jun?"

Xiao Xueling smiled, "Similar to Elder Yuan. He's extremely talented, of course, but his thoughts are a bit elusive."

The fishing woman stood up, "Many times, when you feel you can't see through a person, it's often because you, the observer, are overthinking."

She handed the fishing rod to Xiao Xueling and left the pavilion.

………

The imperial visit to Dragon and Tiger Mountain did not last long.

Before the new year, the Empress would return to the capital.

Thus, she only stayed for a day and a night on Dragon and Tiger Mountain before departing again.

This public trip was more to show her stance.

The third internal strife of Dragon and Tiger Mountain had finally come to an end.

To some extent, the Empress's personal visit to Dragon and Tiger Mountain was the best congratulatory gift for the new Celestial Master's succession.

However, on the surface, there were various rewards and honors, as expected.

The lion's share, without a doubt, went to the newly appointed Celestial Master, Tang Xiatang.

Below Tang Xiatang, everyone on Dragon and Tiger Mountain received gifts, though they varied in value. Still, no one was left empty-handed.

After the internal strife, the Heavenly Master's Mansion was in a state of disrepair, but now it finally had a bit of festive cheer.

In addition to Tang Xiatang and the three high-achieving elders, Lei Jun and the other ordained Daoists, such as Lin Shan and Zhang Jingzhen, received the most generous rewards.

Needless to say, they were bestowed with new Daoist headwear, robes, shoes, and dust-brushing implements.

On top of that, there were also the Five Qi Stones, numerous Guanghua Jade pieces, 200 sheets of Purple Smoke Talisman Paper, 20 pills of Pine Essence Talisman Ink, and five Dragon Whisker Talisman Brushes...

Basically, Lei Jun, Lin Shan, Zhang Jingzhen, and Fang Jian each received a complete set of these items, with little difference in quantity.

The only variation was that each person received a unique spiritual object.

The spiritual object that Lei Jun obtained was a spiritual plant called the Twin Spirit Treasure Tree. It bore two types of flowers, containing a world within, and was a highly valuable object for cultivators of the Three Heavens level in the Daoist Talisman Sect.

However, to him, it was somewhat unappealing.

This was because the Twin Spirit Treasure Tree's primary function was to aid practitioners of the Dragon and Tiger Dual Spirit Law.

While Lei Jun did cultivate this art, it was not his main focus, nor did he intend to make it his lifelong practice.

Using the Twin Spirit Treasure Tree would undoubtedly enhance his Dragon and Tiger Dual Spirit Law, but if asked, he would prefer Lin Shan's spiritual object, the Gathering Origin Ice Spirit.

This treasure had no specific targeted effect, but it could aid cultivators in their daily practice and be useful at all times.

Such a reward didn't seem out of the ordinary.

Perhaps it was due to Shangguan Ning's influence, or maybe it truly was Lin Shan's own wish.

He was quite enthusiastic about interacting with the Tang imperial family.

During the Empress's visit to Dragon and Tiger Mountain, Lin Shan had been busy attending to various matters, investing a lot of thought into the preparations.

His mentor, Shangguan Ning, also seemed intent on fostering him, entrusting many reception tasks to Lin Shan.

The Dragon and Tiger Mountain sect didn't mind this arrangement.

After suffering consecutive calamities that had shaken them to their core, the Heavenly Master's Mansion was at its lowest point in recent years, and drawing closer to the Tang imperial family was inevitable.

Lin Shan was merely their representative.

He was young, with immense potential, and his current cultivation had already reached the Sixth Heaven realm.

Previously, he had been on par with Zhang Jingzhen, Li Kong, Li Xuan, and Xia Xiushan, the cream of the young generation. Although he might have been half a step behind Zhang Jingzhen, he was by no means inferior to the others.

If not for this, Li Xuan wouldn't have changed his mind about harming Lin Shan when he had a rare opportunity in Sword Valley.

After the battle, in most people's eyes, Li Xuan had gone missing, and Li Kong was confirmed dead.

The Xia siblings, Xia Xiushan and Xia Qing, had also disappeared, and there was no news of them from Lan Mountain.

Among the young generation of the Heavenly Master's Mansion, Lin Shan's status would only grow more prominent.

Thus, the Tang imperial family's reward for Lin Shan was naturally generous.

In contrast, Lei Daoist, as always, got along with everyone but didn't become too close to anyone.

The Twin Spirit Treasure Tree he received was nominally no less valuable than the Gathering Origin Ice Spirit.

However, it didn't quite match his personality.

It was almost as if it reflected his somewhat detached relationship with Her Majesty, the Empress.

Lei Jun's expression remained unchanged, and he seemed as content as ever, going with the flow.

It seemed that Lin Shan's Gathering Origin Ice Spirit was the Sixth-Grade opportunity mentioned in the middle-upper fortune.

But this Twin Spirit Treasure Tree didn't seem like a Fifth-Grade opportunity, no matter how he looked at it.

Especially for me, it's not very suitable... Lei Jun thought to himself.

However, he didn't dwell on it and simply put the item away.

Later, however, he had a visitor.

"Sister Zhang?"

Lei Jun was slightly startled by Zhang Jingzhen's sudden visit.

He invited her to sit in the courtyard and served her tea.

After some casual conversation, Zhang Jingzhen got straight to the point. "Brother Lei, forgive me, but I came here today to ask for your help."

Lei Jun replied, "Sister Zhang is too kind. Our elders often teach us to help each other as fellow sect members. May I ask how I can be of assistance?"

Zhang Jingzhen said, "During this court bestowment, I noticed that Brother Lei has obtained a Twin Spirit Treasure Tree. May I ask if you would be willing to part with it? Of course, I don't intend to take your treasure for free. If you're willing, I'd like to propose an exchange so that we can both get what we need."

Lei Jun rarely displayed his abilities in front of others, so not many people knew what his primary cultivation art was.

Moreover, he had only reached the Fifth Heaven realm, and he would have another opportunity to choose a primary cultivation art when he reached the Sixth Heaven.

Zhang Jingzhen didn't know that he had never considered the Dragon and Tiger Dual Spirit Law as his primary cultivation art, so she wasn't aware that the Twin Spirit Treasure Tree wasn't that precious to him.

Lei Jun was just recalling what Zhang Jingzhen had received when she took out another item.

It was a small bottle.

"Brother Lei, as a disciple of Master Yuan, your physical strength and vitality must be remarkable."

Zhang Jingzhen explained, "I happened to obtain this bottle of Blood Revitalizing Heavenly Brew, which can further enhance one's physical body and vitality. I think it would be perfect for you. Of course, if there's something else you desire, please let me know, and I'll try to arrange it."

"No need, Sister Zhang. You're too kind."

Lei Jun raised his eyebrows slightly. "This Blood Revitalizing Heavenly Brew will do."

Compared to the Twin Spirit Treasure Tree, the Blood Revitalizing Heavenly Brew was a more suitable spiritual object for his cultivation.

So, the Fifth-Grade opportunity is related to this? I'm now quite curious about the hidden trouble Lin Shan will face regarding the Sixth-Grade opportunity... Lei Jun thought.

PS: Here's another 5k chapter.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end