Seeking Fortune And Avoiding Calamity, Starting From The Heavenly Master's Mansion Chapter 231: I'm a Researcher, Not Good at Fighting - Novel Cool

Chapter 231: I'm a Researcher, Not Good at Fighting

Chapter 231: I'm a Researcher, Not Good at Fighting

The previous draw mentioned the possibility of obtaining a third-grade opportunity with future expansion prospects. It seems that the follow-up to this opportunity lies in the potential to further enhance one's physique and constitution... Lei Jun thought to himself.

A celestial body with a divine constitution is an extremely rare find in the present age, even within the Heavenly Master's Mansion. As far as Lei Jun knew, among the members of the mansion, only his junior, Tang Xiaotang, possessed such a constitution.

Looking further back, the previous person with a celestial body in the Heavenly Master's Mansion was Li Cangting, the son of the second Heavenly Master. But that was over a hundred years ago.

Years after the turmoil that marked the end of Li Cangting's life, Tang Xiaotang entered the gates of the Heavenly Master's Mansion. Thus, the mansion had not experienced the joy of having two bearers of the celestial body constitution simultaneously.

Now, there seemed to be a glimmer of hope.

And it wasn't just about the celestial body constitution.

"Hmm..." Tang Xiaotang stood up, intrigued. She walked around Lei Jun with a keen interest, examining him up and down.

Lei Jun said, "Junior Sister, please refrain from looking at others with such an attitude and gaze that could easily lead to misunderstandings."

"What nonsense are you talking about?" Tang Xiaotang retorted, her finger under her chin. "I'm just thinking that you're quite an unusual talent. While there have been rare cases throughout history of individuals born with both a celestial body constitution and a calm and insightful temperament, there has never been a recorded case of someone achieving this level of enhancement in both their constitution and insight through cultivation. If you succeed, you'll be the first."

Lei Jun corrected her, "My constitution hasn't reached that level yet."

Ignoring his correction, Tang Xiaotang continued as if she hadn't heard him, "Post-natal enhancement is already rare, but for you to continuously enhance yourself to this extent is even more extraordinary."

Lei Jun repeated what he had said earlier, "It's all thanks to luck, and it's indeed not easy."

He looked at Tang Xiaotang and added, "While post-natal enhancement is beneficial, compared to a natural genius like you, Junior Sister, I've undoubtedly wasted a lot of time."

Tang Xiaotang, the person in question, had progressed from a novice cultivator to a Heavenly Master in a short span of time.

From another perspective, this also corresponded to her brief cultivation journey.

When she was a little over seven years old, she was taken in by Xu Yuanzhen and brought to Dragon and Tiger Mountain.

At the age of eight, Tang Xiaotang had already crossed the heavenly tribulation between the First and Second Heavens, successfully establishing her foundation.

Subsequently, at the age of nine, she reached the Third Heaven and the Law Forum.

At eleven, she attained the Fourth Heaven and the Primordial Symbol.

At thirteen, she reached the Fifth Heaven and the Daoist Palace.

At fifteen, she achieved the Sixth Heaven and the Daoist Seal.

And finally, at eighteen years old, she reached the Seventh Heaven and attained the Heavenly Connection realm!

In just a little over a decade, she had reached the Upper Three Heavens realm.

Normally, many cultivators her age would still be novices, studying at the Daoist Academy.

From the Seventh Heaven to the Eighth Heaven, Tang Xiaotang's progress seemed to finally slow down.

However, during this period, she spent a significant amount of time wandering outside, solely focused on finding the lost Heavenly Master's Sword...

Of course, Tang Xiaotang's rapid progress was already extraordinary, even among those born with celestial body constitutions and calm and insightful temperaments.

Despite being a peerless genius, her recorded cultivation speed was still at the forefront when compared to others with similar innate talents.

"But speaking of which..." Lei Jun suddenly remembered something. "Junior Sister, do you know what level of constitution and insight Senior Sister has attained?"

Tang Xiaotang shook her head. "I don't know. Not just me, but Junior Master might not be entirely clear about it either."

She suddenly lowered her voice and said mysteriously to Lei Jun, "Actually, I have a speculation that Senior Sister, like you, has enhanced her innate abilities through cultivation."

Lei Jun pondered her words thoughtfully.

Tang Xiaotang, however, seemed to lose interest in the topic. "But I don't know the specifics. We can ask Senior Sister about it when she returns."

"Whether we ask or not is secondary," Lei Jun said. "The important thing is for Senior Sister to return safely."

The tall woman in front of him pouted. "She'll definitely return safely. Even Lin Che managed to come back, so how could Senior Sister not? I just don't know where she is enjoying herself right now."

Her tone of voice conveyed a sense of admiration and envy.

Lei Jun said, "Although our sect has been adhering to the principle of recuperation and refraining from rash actions in recent years, we should still pay attention to the movements of the Lin Clan in Jiangzhou and the Great Black Mountain in the Northern Frontier."

After chatting for a while longer, Lei Jun bid farewell to Tang Xiaotang and left the Heavenly Master's Hall, returning to his residence.

The Balance of Dynamics, intertwined with Lei Jun's spiritual power, gradually transformed into a solemn, mercury-like liquid, losing its previous form of the Two Instruments of Balance.

Then, Lei Jun used his flesh and blood to temporarily integrate the Balance of Dynamics into his body.

With his Yin-Yang Sacred Body and cultivation base far surpassing Meng Shaoji's, he could naturally control this treasure to a large extent.

Even when faced with extreme powers like pure yang or pure yin, the Balance of Dynamics within Lei Jun's body would not go out of control, nor would it be stimulated to flow towards his spirit.

Moreover, even if the Balance of Dynamics did flow into his spirit, there was the Heavenly Master's Seal, as well as the heavenly book within the True One Law Forum cave, to protect him.

Lei Jun put away the Balance of Dynamics and continued to focus on his cultivation.

Above him, light converged to form a jade seal that resembled the Heavenly Master's Seal. It was profound and refined in its simplicity.

...

About thirty miles outside the capital, the East Palace carriage came to a temporary halt.

Having reached this point, safety was no longer a concern.

Chu Yu went ahead to report to the Empress, while the others remained outside the city awaiting her decree.

Prince Zhang Hui's brushstrokes were meticulous and elegant, and soon a beautiful scroll was taking shape under his skilled hands.

After setting down his brush, Zhang Hui examined his work for a moment before nodding in satisfaction and imprinting his private seal upon the painting.

By his side stood only one companion—Ye Song from Qingzhou, his study partner.

"Cousin, take a look at my new work," Zhang Hui said with a smile.

The painting depicted a picturesque mountain landscape with billowing clouds, exuding an ethereal aura.

It was the very place they had visited on Dragon and Tiger Mountain.

Ye Song praised, "Your Highness always has a profound understanding of the world, and your brushstrokes are divinely inspired."

Zhang Hui smiled modestly. "It's not that mystical. I didn't have the opportunity to paint at the time, so I merely memorized the scenery, and now I've recreated it."

Ye Song also smiled.

However, his smile quickly faded as he asked in a low voice, "Your Highness, now that we're returning to the capital, you won't be able to move as freely as before for a while."

Prince Zhang Hui casually replied, "I didn't have much freedom on this trip either. My uncle, Prince Xun'an, has been keeping a close eye on me."

Ye Song sighed, "If only we had more time..."

"Be patient," Zhang Hui advised.

Ye Song sighed softly, "Your Highness possesses a talent that is blessed by the heavens. Even if you pause for a moment, you can still soar to new heights whenever you wish. But... it will still take some time."

In addition to the imperial arts bestowed by the Emperor, Zhang Hui's cultivation foundation was rooted in the Confucian classics.

If he could accumulate his strength and make a breakthrough, it would be akin to sharpening a knife without neglecting the firewood.

However, even with this accumulation, the next step would be to increase his cultivation speed exponentially, but he would still need to be cautious when facing the tribulations that came with breaking through to a higher realm.

"Be patient," Zhang Hui repeated calmly.

Ye Song bowed his head and replied, "Yes."

Zhang Hui's expression was relaxed as he smiled, "This trip has been a success. I've managed to reach a higher level."

Compared to his cultivation level before they left Dragon and Tiger Mountain, he had managed to break through to the Fifth Heaven realm in just a few short days on their return journey.

There were plenty of valid reasons for this progress.

As the crown prince confined to the capital and the depths of the palace, this was his first time traveling outside the capital, allowing him to finally experience the grandeur and splendor of the Great Tang Dynasty, broadening his horizons and his mind.

Moreover, hearing about the unrest in the southern frontier and the rebellion of the remnants of the previous dynasty, as well as personally experiencing an assassination attempt, he now understood the challenges of maintaining a peaceful and prosperous nation. All these experiences stirred his emotions and led to advancements in his cultivation.

However...

With Zhang Hui's talent, this was just the beginning.

But sometimes, unspoken understandings were enough.

Ye Song also remained silent, his expression calm and free from the anxiety he had shown earlier.

Prince Zhang Hui glanced at his cousin and smiled slightly.

But the smile on his face was fleeting, and his expression soon turned serious. "However, who ordered those Huangtian Daoists outside Dragon and Tiger Mountain to make their move?"

Ye Song's expression turned solemn, and his brows furrowed.

The botched assassination attempt was not their doing.

The assassination had disrupted Prince Zhang Hui's itinerary.

They had originally planned to visit a few more places outside the capital.

But it didn't seem like it was the Empress's doing either.

Even if she wanted to get rid of her nephew, she wouldn't have done it so sloppily.

Unless it was merely a test to stir up trouble?

Or perhaps...

"Is there a third party involved, trying to take advantage of the chaos and fish in muddy waters?" Ye Song speculated.

Zhang Hui stood with his hands behind his back and asked, "Haven't we found out who is backing the Huangtian Dao yet?"

He knew that the Ye clans of Jinzhou and Qingzhou, along with other prominent families, had been secretly supporting the Huangtian Dao to counter the Heavenly Master's Mansion.

But the current situation was peculiar.

The infiltration of the Huangtian Dao by the Ye clans of Jinzhou and Qingzhou had only reached the middle levels of the organization.

Someone else had already established a spokesperson within the upper echelons of the Huangtian Dao.

Moreover, all signs pointed to there being two separate backers, but their identities and backgrounds were shrouded in mystery.

Although Ye Yan and the others from Qingzhou had their suspicions, they lacked concrete evidence.

Ye Song also expressed his regret, "We don't have any more information at the moment. Qi Shuo and Zhao Zongjie are both very cautious. Although we established a connection with Qi Shuo before, he is highly suspicious, and we haven't made any further discoveries for now.

The only valuable clue we have is that this assassination attempt was likely instigated by Zhao Zongjie, one of the elders of the Huangtian Dao, but the reason behind it is unclear."

Zhang Hui nodded slowly, then smiled and said, "It doesn't matter. We'll take it slow and steady."

He turned to look at the painting of Dragon and Tiger Mountain in front of him and asked, "Although we had to cut our trip short and return to the capital, it wasn't a completely fruitless journey. We visited Pure Yang Palace, Shu Mountain, and Dragon and Tiger Mountain. Now that you've seen Dragon and Tiger Mountain in person, what do you think of it?

Ye Song spoke without hesitation, "At present, it is indeed weak and vulnerable, although there are signs of a revival. However, the burden of responsibility falls solely on the shoulders of a mere three or five individuals."

"The sooner we act, the better it is to prevent potential troubles in Jinzhou," Zhang Hui added, acknowledging the simple truth.

"Indeed, but someone has to bear the cost," Zhang Hui mused, his fingers casually sketching on the table.

He wrote the characters 'Xu,' 'Tang,' and 'Yuan,' followed by a new line with the character 'Lei.'

Among those of the same imperial lineage as Zhang Jingzhen, who was currently in seclusion to break through to the Seventh Heaven realm, there were also the already established Seventh Heaven cultivators, Shangguan Ning and Yao Yuan. However, Zhang Hui did not include their surnames in his writing.

After writing, he paused, his finger tapping lightly on the character 'Lei' as he fell into deep thought.

"Shangguan and Zhang are worth trying to win over. As for Yao, his potential is already well-known," Ye Song nodded slightly.

He, too, fixed his gaze on the character 'Lei,' "As for Elder Lei, his cultivation progress is exceptionally fast, but in other aspects..."

"He also went to the Southern Wasteland this time, alongside Xiao Xueting and Shen Qubing, but he didn't accomplish much," Zhang Hui added.

Ye Song pondered for a moment before replying, "Now that I think about it, he's indeed not renowned for his combat abilities."

During the recent internal strife within the Celestial Master's Mansion, Elder Lei's presence was barely noticeable. It was said that he did not directly participate in the battles against the Li family disciples but instead patrolled the outskirts of Dragon and Tiger Mountain, guarding against potential attacks from external forces like the Blood River Sect and Jincheng Fortress.

There were also rumors that when the Gu Master, Zao Sen, of the Yin Mountain Cave of the Wu Clan faced off against the Southern Monk Nanhanyuan Ruyuan, Elder Lei launched a sneak attack and injured Zao Sen, who managed to escape.

Elder Lei had also joined the campaign in the Southern Wasteland, but his involvement was minimal, and he left little impression.

His master, Yuan Mobai, on the other hand, had a more illustrious record, including entering the Nine Li Mystery Realm and participating in the final battle at Meilong Lake, where he played a crucial role in intercepting Yang Yuqi.

When Elder Lei, Xiao Xueting, and Shen Qubing ventured towards the Star Dragon Abyss, Elder Lei's actions were barely noticeable.

The only notable achievement attributed to him was the killing of Zao Sen, his old rival, in the Zaojiang River Basin. However, his first attack on Zao Sen was a sneak attack during the latter's battle with Ruyuan, and the second time, Zao Sen was past his prime.

For someone considered a proud disciple of a sacred site-level sect, these achievements were less than impressive.

Of course, for a cultivator at the Middle Three Heavens stage, it was understandable to be cautious in the treacherous environment of the Southern Wasteland.

Over the years, whenever Elder Lei gained recognition, it was either due to his rapid cultivation progress or his young age when he assumed the position of Elder in the Celestial Master's Mansion.

However, when it came to specific accomplishments, they were hard to pinpoint.

If one had to mention something, it was that he was known for his enthusiasm in improving basic spirit talismans and contributing to the sect's legacy of manuals and texts.

In the earlier years, people praised him as another rising genius of the Celestial Master's Mansion.

But recently, there had been growing controversies and whispers.

Was he truly a talent focused on research and not inclined towards external struggles?

From this perspective, he could still be considered a crucial pillar of the sect, not to be underestimated.

However, the nature of his role had changed, and he now belonged to a different category of individuals.

"Perhaps he's like his master, Yuan Mobai, hiding his true strength and biding his time for a stunning revelation?" Ye Song speculated, his finger gently tapping the table.

Zhang Hui's finger finally stopped tapping, "He still warrants our attention and shouldn't be taken lightly, but..."

He pointed towards the characters 'Xu,' 'Tang,' and 'Yuan' above, "The key still lies here."

Ye Song nodded slowly.

However, their role was limited to gathering information, and it was up to the Ye Clan in Jinzhou to decide on the course of action.

The Ye Clan in Qingzhou had other important matters to attend to.

"The imperial edict should be arriving soon. Let's prepare to enter the city," Zhang Hui said, glancing at the painting of Dragon and Tiger Mountain before casually tapping it.

The painting ignited, turning into ashes at his fingertips.

......

Within Dragon and Tiger Mountain, Elder Lei, oblivious to the outside world's turmoil, steadily advanced in his cultivation.

One evening, as he connected with the celestial book, his consciousness immersed itself in the starry universe.

Aside from the dimly glowing Chen Star, representing Wednesday, the six stars, including Elder Lei's Taibai Star, shone brightly.

Elder Lei had come this time with the intention of gathering some information.

He wanted to know about Lin Che, the clan leader of the Lin Clan in Jiangzhou, and the news from the Great Black Mountain in the Northern Frontier, all because of his senior disciple sister, Xu Yuanzhen.

However, Elder Lei did not directly inquire about the Great Black Mountain or the Lin Clan in Jiangzhou.

Instead, he asked, "Does anyone have any recent news about the Lin Clan in Youzhou?"

(End of Chapter)

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