https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-4-4-Opportunities-Vary-in-Quality/12586104/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-6-My-Junior-Disciple-is-Too-Impulsive/12586106/
Chapter 5: 5. Once Again, Seeking Good Fortune and Avoiding Calamity
Chapter 5: 5. Once Again, Seeking Good Fortune and Avoiding Calamity
Lei Jun looked at Wang Guiyuan, "Daoist Wang..."
Wang Guiyuan laughed, "Brother Lei, there's no need to be so formal. Just call me Senior Brother Wang."
"With your temperament and talent, even if you don't participate in next year's Grand Initiation Ceremony, you will surely be able to join the one after that and ascend the mountain to enter the Heavenly Master's Mansion."
"I was also trained in the Daoist Academy among the six divisions."
"I see..." Lei Jun replied, "Then I would like to trouble Senior Brother Wang to guide me in the future."
Wang Guiyuan handed the letter to Lei Jun and said, "I will frequently visit the Daoist Academy from now on. If you have any difficulties in your daily life or cultivation, feel free to come to me, and I will try my best to help."
Lei Jun first thanked Wang Guiyuan and then read the letter left by Elder Yuan.
The general gist of the letter was that Elder Yuan had already gained a preliminary understanding of Lei Jun's situation. While his current root bone and natural talent were average, his potential was promising. Setting aside Xu Yuanzhen's wishes, Elder Yuan himself was also willing to accept Lei Jun as his disciple.
However, it was Xu Yuanzhen's idea to guide Lei Jun into his sect, and it was unknown what Lei Jun's own thoughts were. It wasn't that Xu Yuanzhen didn't want to introduce Lei Jun to her master, the Celestial Master, but the Celestial Master was even more reclusive than Elder Yuan. He had been in seclusion for the past ten years.
It was uncertain when the Celestial Master would emerge from seclusion. Not only was it uncertain if he would be present for next year's Grand Initiation Ceremony, but it was also uncertain if he would come out of seclusion before the ceremony after the next one.
That was why Xu Yuanzhen had introduced Lei Jun to Elder Yuan instead.
However, as the saying goes, water flows downwards, and people strive upwards. Regardless of who it was, once they entered the Heavenly Master's Mansion, if there was even a glimmer of hope to become a personal disciple of the Celestial Master, who would be content with being just a disciple of the Celestial Master's disciple?
Since Xu Yuanzhen, who had introduced Lei Jun to the path, was not accepting disciples, the choice of whom to accept as his master should be Lei Jun's decision.
Perhaps Lei Jun would be content to wait for the Celestial Master to emerge from seclusion...
After reading the letter, Lei Jun's first thought was:
According to normal social norms, now that you've said this, how could others still express their desire to become the Celestial Master's disciple? Even if it's just for show, one should immediately kowtow and beg you to accept them as your disciple.
However...
Lei Jun looked at the handwriting on the letter and paused for a moment before answering.
As he read the words, it was as if he was gazing into a pair of gentle eyes, filled with encouragement.
Having spent a significant amount of time in this world, Lei Jun could say that this was not an illusion.
The writings of a cultivation master contained emotions and encompassed the vastness of the world.
Lei Jun put down the letter and looked up at Wang Guiyuan.
Wang Guiyuan smiled, "Before my master left, he also spoke to me about you, Junior Brother Lei.
He said that cultivating the Dao is an arduous task. Only by facing your true inner intentions can you remain resolute on this path."
Lei Jun: "I apologize for my indecisiveness, Senior Brother Wang. I'm truly at a loss for what to do."
Wang Guiyuan gave Lei Jun a sidelong glance.
No matter how he looked at it, the tall young man before him seemed to be someone who had his own firm convictions.
However, Wang Guiyuan did not say more but simply smiled and shook his head.
"Junior Brother Lei is too humble. My master said that you need not rush your decision. Perhaps by the time of the next Grand Initiation Ceremony, the Celestial Master will have emerged from seclusion. We can discuss it then.
Usually, as long as he is on the mountain and not in seclusion, you can ask him any questions you have about your cultivation, in addition to seeking guidance from the instructors at the Daoist Academy."
"Thank you, Senior Brother Wang and Elder," Lei Jun said.
The glowing sphere in his mind was quiet, and no divination lot appeared to foretell his destiny.
It seemed to indicate that Elder Yuan and Wang Guiyuan were sincere in their words and would not treat Lei Jun unfavorably just because he wanted to aim for the "high branch" of becoming the Celestial Master's disciple.
Perhaps Elder Yuan never intended to take him as a disciple and only considered Xu Yuanzhen's face. Or maybe the timing wasn't right yet, and he was waiting for the initiation ceremony to draw nearer?
In the following days, whenever Lei Jun had questions, Wang Guiyuan would patiently guide him. With a dedicated teacher and the supply of Purple Gold Reishi Essence to nourish his qi, Lei Jun's cultivation continued to advance rapidly. He cultivated his eighth Qi Sea and successfully broke through to the eighth layer of qi refinement.
As time went on, nearly a year had passed since Lei Jun entered the Heavenly Master's Mansion. The initial novelty of his new surroundings had worn off, and the daily routine of lessons and cultivation began to feel a tad monotonous.
However, as he endured this period of mental monotony, Lei Jun gradually began to capture and comprehend the subtle intricacies of the Dao, finding peace and tranquility within himself.
Then, one day, this serenity was suddenly shattered.
"There's been a theft in the Daoist Academy!"
The news reached Lei Jun and the others as they finished their evening classes.
Soon, the academy was in an uproar.
"What's going on? What's happening? Who did it?"
"I heard someone from the second branch stole something from the first branch, and they know who it is. They're chasing after them now."
"Have they caught the thief yet?"
"No, they say the thief ran into the mountains."
Soon, an instructor gathered everyone and announced, "Tonight, you will undergo an additional trial. We will be conducting a mountain search. Prepare quickly and let's depart at once!"
Although the incident startled the Heavenly Master's Mansion, the matter was left primarily to the Daoist Academy to handle.
The numerous Daoists from the various branches sprang into action, forming multiple teams to comb through the mountains. They set up checkpoints and cast their nets, conducting a manhunt akin to a grand hunt.
Lei Jun's team, led by two true disciples of the Heavenly Master's Mansion, consisted of twenty Daoist apprentices guarding a critical location in the northern mountains. They kept watch over the surrounding area, scanning the distance in their search.
Among them was a young Daoist who appeared to be around fourteen or fifteen years old, similar in age to most of the Daoist apprentices.
However, the nineteen-year-old Lei Jun, who had only joined a year ago, and the other younger apprentices had to follow this youth's commands and directives.
Lei Jun thought to himself that if it weren't for this incident, the difference between Daoists and apprentices wouldn't be so apparent. He needed to improve his cultivation quickly and participate in the initiation ceremony...
Their search and interception efforts yielded no results.
The two leading true disciples of the Heavenly Master's Mansion had a difference of opinion.
The young Daoist waved his hand, "Standing guard here is not a solution. Let's search the mountains towards the northeast or northwest in a pincer formation!"
The other young Daoist said, "Junior Brother, our duty is to guard this area. We shouldn't abandon our post."
The young Daoist insisted, "Then let's split into two groups. Each of us will lead a small team. One team will stay here, and the other will search the flanks!"
Lei Jun and the other apprentices stood quietly by, awaiting further instructions.
Suddenly, Lei Jun's mind lit up with a flash of light.
The dormant glowing sphere in his mind suddenly came to life, displaying a message:
【Pursuit of the insider thief, hidden motives, separate actions, life and death by fate.】
Three divination lots then flew out of the glowing sphere, each bearing a prediction:
【Upper-middle lot: Participate in the proactive manhunt, press forward without deviation, no complications. Gain a sixth-grade opportunity, auspicious.】
【Middle lot: Stand guard at the original position, remain calm and unmoving, wait for the storm to pass. No gains, no losses, neutral.】
【Lower lot: Participate in the proactive manhunt, change targets midway, fall into a deadly trap, certain death, extremely inauspicious!】
(End of Chapter)
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