https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-3-3-Consecutive-Cultivation-Advancement/12586103/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-5-5-Once-Again-Seeking-Good-Fortune-and-Avoiding-Calamity/12586105/
Chapter 4: 4. Opportunities Vary in Quality
Chapter 4: 4. Opportunities Vary in Quality
If given the chance, Lei Jun would rather attend next year's Grand Initiation Ceremony.
After all, time waits for no one, and cultivation waits for no one either.
Compared to some of the novels he had read in his previous life on the Blue Star, the cultivators in this world were quite unique.
While cultivators might possess immense powers and destructive capabilities, their lifespans were not as lengthy, lasting only a few thousand or ten thousand years.
In summary, they were robust but short-lived.
And this short lifespan was a significant issue; aside from its transience, another problem was decay.
Without attaining eternal life, cultivators would inevitably face aging and deterioration, no matter how high their realm or long their lifespan.
Based on Lei Jun's current understanding, cultivators in this world would not become increasingly powerful with age unless they continuously improved their realm and transcended their limitations to extend their lifespan.
Failing to break through and improve beyond a certain age would only result in stagnated progress and gradual weakening, even to the point of regression in realm.
Hence, the image of an elderly immortal with a youthful appearance who could still ascend to the peak only had two possibilities:
First, compared to their elderly appearance, their current age was actually far below the limit of their lifespan.
Second, they were indeed old, and their younger selves were even more formidable than their current selves.
Thus, while early fame was not necessary, progress must be made as early as possible.
The younger one was, the more vigorous and rapid their improvement, and the greater their potential.
For Lei Jun, who had started cultivating at the age of eighteen, it was already a stroke of luck to have begun his journey in a sacred site like the Heavenly Masters Mansion. It helped him make up for lost time.
However, there was less than a year left until next year's Grand Initiation Ceremony.
The higher one progressed in cultivation, the more difficult and time-consuming it became.
Relying solely on the Purple Gold Lingzhi as a single resource wouldn't be enough to make it in time. More resources were needed... These thoughts flashed through Lei Jun's mind.
Unaware of the young man's sudden train of thought, the instructor continued, his words filled with admiration, "Your senior sister, Xu Yuanzhen, who introduced you to our sect and brought you to the Heavenly Masters Mansion, truly has an eye for talent. Her discernment is admirable."
"Yes," Lei Jun agreed.
The senior sister's name was Xu Yuanzhen.
The instructor before him actually followed a different lineage from hers.
However, most of the direct disciples of the Heavenly Masters Mansion of the same generation addressed her as "Senior Sister."
Because Xu Yuanzhen was the first senior disciple of the current Celestial Master.
Although Senior Sister Xu wasn't very old, her reputation certainly was.
There were quite a few elders within the Heavenly Masters Mansion, and many outside addressed her as "Second Celestial Master."
It was this Second Celestial Master who had brought Lei Jun back to the Heavenly Masters Mansion.
However, she didn't seem particularly reliable.
She had a penchant for wandering off, and after bringing Lei Jun back to the mountain, she had left again and hadn't returned since.
Lei Jun didn't make a fuss about it and decided to let things take their natural course.
"In the path of cultivation, it's excellent that you're gradually gaining insight. However, remember to maintain a balance between work and rest and avoid impatience," the instructor advised.
"Yes," Lei Jun acknowledged.
The instructor nodded in satisfaction.
Lei Jun's rapid progress delighted him, but it wasn't entirely unexpected.
The fact that Lei Jun was progressing faster than he had anticipated was also not particularly startling.
After all, there was a rising star in the Eighth Division who had been attracting attention lately.
Chen Yixin's rapid ascent after obtaining the Pure Gold Lingzhi had caught the eyes of many.
However, Lei Jun had heard that Chen Yixin had been facing some challenges lately due to envy and resentment from others.
Some of the familiar dao children in the Sixth Division had also chatted about this matter.
Zhang Shi, who had been recuperating from his injuries, now brimming with vitality, spoke mysteriously, "It's quite simple, actually. I heard he offended one of the daoists in the mansion because of that Pure Gold Lingzhi."
"Is it because of that Pure Gold Lingzhi?" Lei Jun asked.
Zhang Shi continued, "Yes, I heard that the daoist wanted to refine a furnace of immortal pills, but he couldn't because the Lingzhi Terrace had withered, and the Gold Lingzhi had become extinct. This time, the Lingzhi Terrace unexpectedly revived, and a new Pure Gold Lingzhi grew. But just as he finally got the opportunity, Chen Yixin took the Pure Gold Lingzhi for himself. How could he not attract hatred?"
One of the dao children beside him asked hesitantly, "Wouldn't the daoist in the mansion be more understanding than to hold a grudge over such a matter?" It wasn't so much that he was siding with Chen Yixin, but more of a camaraderie among peers.
Zhang Shi sighed, "Of course, the daoist wouldn't start a feud over this. He would, at most, sigh over the missed opportunity. But there are plenty of people in the Daoist Court who want to curry favor with him, so they decided to take it out on Chen Yixin."
Lei Jun recalled his own fortune-telling results from that day:
"Medium Qi, don't get involved in the heat of the moment, bide your time, and after the turmoil, go to the Spirit Mushroom Terrace, where you will find a sixth-grade opportunity. But be warned, it will attract envy and resentment, and you will face hidden dangers.
】
Following Senior Sister Xu Yuanzhen's style, she would only bother herself with issues concerning the higher-ups bullying their juniors.
As for disputes among the Daoist apprentices, she probably wouldn't pay much attention.
With her around, Lei Jun would have had no major troubles if he had chosen that medium-quality opportunity, but minor inconveniences would still be possible.
This situation perfectly fit the description of a medium-quality opportunity—a mixed bag.
However, Lei Jun currently had nothing to do with it and remained uninvolved.
He had heard the gossip but continued on his own path, focusing on his cultivation.
One evening, the instructor brought a young Daoist to Lei Jun's courtyard.
"This is Wang Guyuan, Senior Martial Uncle Yuan's disciple." The instructor introduced him. "Senior Martial Uncle Yuan has a letter for you."
"Martial Uncle Yuan?" Lei Jun's heart stirred.
Martial Uncle Yuan, Xu Yuanzhen's junior uncle.
The current Celestial Master's junior brother.
Hearing that the young Daoist before him was his disciple, Lei Jun felt a sense of emotion.
Usually, among the Daoist apprentices in the academy at the foot of the mountain, if they were allowed to participate in the initiation ceremony, their future masters were often already known.
The Immortal Master who had guided the Daoist apprentice to Longhu Mountain and introduced them to the Dao would, barring any unforeseen circumstances, become their master when they officially became Daoists, also known as their initiation master.
The Celestial Master's Mansion valued lineage, and most of the time, this so-called immortal fate was a direct and straightforward connection.
However, Lei Jun had encountered an exception.
When he had first arrived at Longhu Mountain with Senior Sister Xu Yuanzhen, they stopped by the Daoist academy at the mountain's foot. Xu Yuanzhen casually stopped someone to ask,
"Has the Master not come out of seclusion yet after almost ten years?"
"The Celestial Master has yet to emerge from seclusion..."
Xu Yuanzhen asked, "Which branch did Junior Uncle go to teach at before this?"
The person replied with a blank expression, "Martial Uncle Yuan has also been in seclusion recently. I heard he went to the Sixth Branch before..."
"Then let's go to the Sixth Branch."
Upon arriving, Xu Yuanzhen pointed at Lei Jun and directly instructed the instructor on duty,
"He was introduced to the Dao by me. I don't intend to take him as my disciple, but he's still one of mine. Help me look after him, and don't let anyone bully him."
The instructor said, "...Senior Sister, judging by your previous disciple, please instruct them not to bully others."
Xu Yuanzhen asked, "One bullying a group?"
The instructor could only smile bitterly.
Xu Yuanzhen said, "I still have matters to attend to, so I'll take my leave. Inform Junior Uncle when he comes out of seclusion." Then, she left, leaving Lei Jun and the instructor staring at each other.
Fortunately, Lei Jun didn't have to go through any further screenings or examinations, and no one investigated his background anymore.
Since Senior Sister Xu Yuanzhen had introduced him to the Dao, it seemed that she was responsible for everything.
From that day on, Lei Jun became a glorious... Daoist apprentice at the Celestial Master's Mansion, one of the three holy lands of the Daoist sect in the world.
Lei Jun studied at the Daoist academy and initially learned about Daoist cultivation, finding it interesting and immersive.
However, he never met the Junior Uncle in seclusion, let alone the current Celestial Master.
Until today.
Martial Uncle Yuan's disciple, the young Daoist named Wang Guyuan, appeared.
He looked to be in his thirties, with an unremarkable appearance, but his apricot-yellow Daoist robe indicated his status as a true disciple of the Celestial Master's Mansion.
He had a friendly attitude and said, "A few days ago, there was an accident at Du Shibo's cave abode, and some Daoist apprentices went to help treat the injured, including you, Lei Jun, right?"
Lei Jun replied, "It was a coincidence that I happened to be there. The Mansion always teaches us to love our fellow disciples, and we keep that in mind."
"Indeed, indeed." The instructor smiled and nodded.
After making the introductions, he didn't stay long and took his leave.
Wang Guyuan spoke in a gentle voice, "My master has been in seclusion, and I've been attending to him. It was only yesterday that he emerged from seclusion.
Senior Sister Xu's intentions were conveyed to him after he came out of seclusion.
He wanted to meet you personally, but unfortunately, the Mansion has recently opened a new blessed land outside the mountain, and the environment is unfamiliar and complex. It needs to be explored and stabilized, so my master also went there upon invitation.
Wang Guyuan continued, "However, before he left, he specially wrote a letter for you."
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
