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Chapter 23: Dodging a Bullet by Not Choosing the Golden Seal
Chapter 23: Dodging a Bullet by Not Choosing the Golden Seal
Lei Jun read his fortune slip without changing his expression, then steadily stepped through the shimmering portal hanging in mid-air.
Out of the four fortune slips, each one foretold a mix of fortune and misfortune.
Some foretold hidden blessings within bad luck, while others hinted at hidden dangers within good luck.
One thing Lei Jun noticed:
"Adapt to changing circumstances. Do not seek what was lost."
It seemed to suggest that the Cloud Sea Fairy Pool had become even more unpredictable and volatile due to certain reasons.
Not only were Wang Guiyuan's experiences from a few years ago no longer applicable, but some of the newly acquired experiences might also be outdated... Lei Jun glanced at Li Ming's back as he walked ahead.
As he stepped into the Cloud Sea Wonderland, his eyes were met with a white mist that obscured his sense of direction.
"Everyone, stop and gather. We'll proceed together shortly," Li Ming's voice echoed.
"Wait for me!"
Suddenly, a voice called out from behind, and a figure rushed through the portal, joining them in the small cave.
Lei Jun turned to see another young Taoist priest in yellow, appearing to be around the same age as Li Ming. He had a handsome face, exuding both the bearing of a Taoist and a scholarly aura.
Li Ming greeted him warmly, "Brother Fang, you returned to the mountain? I thought you would miss the opening of the Cloud Sea Fairy Pool this time."
The young Taoist in yellow, Fang Jian, smiled, "I've missed it a few times already. I had to make it this time. Rest assured, after returning to the mountain, I informed my senior brothers and several uncles, and they allowed me to join temporarily."
Hearing Li Ming's address and their conversation, Lei Jun recalled who this young Taoist priest was.
Fang Jian.
One of the four personal disciples of the contemporary Li Tian Shi.
Not counting the special case of Tang Xiaotang, Fang Jian was the youngest disciple of the current Tian Shi.
One could say he had good luck, as the current Tian Shi began his long seclusion shortly after accepting him as a disciple, unlike Tang Xiaotang, who missed the opportunity and had to wait until now.
Yet, one could also say his luck was not so good, as Tian Shi went into seclusion soon after he joined, and Fang Jian didn't have many opportunities to receive personal guidance from his master.
Moreover, because Tian Shi went into seclusion shortly after accepting him, Fang Jian, among the four personal disciples, was the only one who had not yet received the ordination, remaining a transmitted disciple.
Fortunately, just like Tang Xiaotang, who received special treatment, Fang Jian, as a bona fide personal disciple of Tian Shi, did not lack guidance from other teachers who imparted the teachings of Tian Shi. His cultivation was not hindered, and he always had ample resources at his disposal.
The reason he had not entered the Cloud Sea Fairy Pool before was simply a coincidence; he happened to be away from the mountain or in seclusion during the previous openings.
"It's only natural for Brother Fang to join us. We can't leave him behind," Li Ming said after exchanging greetings with Fang Jian. He then proceeded to close the small cave's portal and introduce the other new disciples to Fang Jian.
Fang Jian carried no air of arrogance and appeared scholarly and amicable.
After the introductions and greetings, Li Ming, the experienced guide, led the group through the dense cloud mist.
"By the way, I almost forgot. Something important happened during this trip down the mountain," Fang Jian said as he walked alongside Li Ming. His expression turned slightly solemn. "I've already reported this to the teachers after returning, and I believe they will soon inform all disciples. You will also receive a notification after leaving."
The group looked at him curiously.
Fang Jian continued slowly, "During this trip, I encountered several people from the evil path who were drawing a type of evil spirit talisman, which they called the Breaking Gold Talisman."
Breaking Gold Talisman... The disciples of the Tian Shi Mansion immediately became attentive at the mention of this.
As the name suggested, their thoughts turned to their famous Golden Seal.
Meeting the group's speculative gazes, Fang Jian nodded in affirmation, "Yes, this Breaking Gold Talisman can specifically counter and break our sect's Golden Seal! One of my fellow junior brothers who went out to practice with me was caught off guard, his Golden Seal was broken, and he was injured by an evil cultivator of the same realm."
The surrounding atmosphere turned silent in an instant.
The group of true disciples of the Tian Shi Mansion exchanged glances, their expressions varied.
Lei Jun let out a soft breath.
The earlier fortune slip of mixed luck had come true as well.
The Tian Shi Mansion's Golden Seal had indeed been targeted and broken by an external enemy.
One could imagine the surprise and embarrassment of the Tian Shi Mansion disciples who had once confidently relied on the Golden Seal's defense, only to have their protection suddenly pierced by an opponent.
This momentary mistake could very well decide the outcome of a battle and the difference between life and death.
Those Tian Shi Mansion disciples who had chosen the Golden Seal as their signature art were not few, and there was more trouble ahead for them.
"The Golden Seal has existed for over a millennium, and while it may have some minor flaws, it has been constantly improved. It has never been breached by an enemy of the same realm in the past few hundred years, so how could it suddenly be..."
Finally, someone broke the silence, Li Ying's face grimacing.
Li Ming took a deep breath. "Fang Shi Xie and the others reported this in time. Since the elders of the sect already know, they will surely find a way to improve and remedy it soon. Everyone can rest assured."
He glanced at his sister, and Li Ying lowered her head, remaining silent.
Li Ming's mood was just as terrible.
The brother and sister had both chosen the Golden Seal as part of their signature art! While others could say they didn't rely on the Golden Seal and could face enemies with other spirit talismans, for those who had made it their signature art, it was like having an arm crippled.
Moreover, it would hinder their future cultivation.
Even if the higher-ups of the Tian Shi Mansion strengthened the Golden Seal and remedied its defects, Li Ming, Li Ying, and the others would still have to spend extra time and energy to re-forge this signature art.
Of course, many others would suffer the same fate, not just the two of them.
But...
In the first moment he heard the news, Li Ming's gaze swept over the people present.
As one of the top new disciples of this year's initiation, he had his eye on quite a few targets.
Chen Yi and Lei Jun need not be mentioned.
What made Li Ming frown inwardly was that these two seemed relatively calm upon hearing the news about the Breaking Gold Talisman.
It was very likely that the signature arts they had chosen did not include the Golden Seal!
Shangguan Hong had also arrived.
Previously, he had trespassed into a forbidden area and was confined and punished, which delayed his cultivation.
However, in just a few months, he had caught up and finally succeeded in building his foundation this month.
Although it was later than expected, it was not a disgrace to his former reputation as a genius.
What slightly comforted Li Ming was that although Shangguan Hong's emotions did not fluctuate greatly upon hearing the news about the Breaking Gold Talisman, his expression still showed a moment of unnaturalness, even though he quickly concealed it.
Another girl named Guo Yan was not as high-profile as Chen Yi and Shangguan Hong.
The teacher who brought her into the Dao was an Elder Hu who led her to Longhu Mountain, and her status was not as high as Yuan Mobai, Lei Jun's teacher.
Among the top seedlings in this transmission ceremony, she was the most low-key.
But Guo Yan was not ordinary. Like Lei Jun, Li Ying, and Chen Yi, she also had an upper-quality spirit root, and she had successfully built her foundation on this spring day after the transmission ceremony.
Upon hearing about the Breaking Gold Talisman, her eyebrows furrowed deeply.
Li Ming saw all of this.
He didn't say much more and led the group through the heavy clouds to the center of the small cave.
The scene that appeared before Lei Jun and the others was spectacular and mysterious.
The Cloud Sea Fairy Pool was less of a pool and more like a huge lake.
Moreover, it was divided into three layers, each suspended in the air, with mist and heat rising from them.
Each layer of the giant lake was formed by the connection of multiple small lakes.
Thus, this place seemed like layers of fairylands, separated and united by clouds and water.
Lei Jun looked up, and the topmost layer was completely shrouded by white clouds, mysterious and ethereal.
This was the Cloud Sea Fairy Pool, with pure cloud seas at the very top, followed by three layers of fairy pools—the Upper Fairy Pool, the Middle Fairy Pool, and the Lower Fairy Pool... As Lei Jun gazed upon this spectacle, he compared it to the four fortune slips he had read.
At this moment, Li Ming spoke, "Before you all came here, your sect elders must have reminded you that while the water of the fairy pool is nourishing, it may also entail risks.
Currently, the most suitable place for your baptismal training is the middle layer, the Middle Fairy Pool.
The lowest layer, the Lower Fairy Pool, is insufficient in spiritual energy due to its ancient origins.
As for the topmost layer, the Upper Fairy Pool..."
Li Ming lifted his head to glance at the Upper Fairy Pool and paused slightly.
His eyes swept over his sister, Li Ying, before continuing, "The Upper Fairy Pool is currently extremely dangerous. The spiritual energy and the water are too scorching, and may cause burns. Do not venture there lightly."
Chen Yi noticed the strangeness in Li Ming's eyes, but he remained calm on the surface, his mind racing.
Lei Jun stood still, unmoving as a mountain.
(End of Chapter)
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