Cultivation: Fortune by Lots

"Master Lei, you sure kept your abilities well-hidden. Such fine cultivation, I am truly impressed," Lu Fang said,

Lei Jun replied, "Just minor tricks, still many shortcomings remain. You’ve made me a laughingstock, General Lu."

Lu Fang said, "I wouldn’t dare, I wouldn’t dare."

After hesitating for a moment, he asked, "Master Lei, may I ask, what was that technique earlier?"

Lei Jun answered, "The Thunder Law Heavenly Manual Talisman Script had been lost for many years, and everyone in our sect deeply regretted it,

Luckily, our Sect Leader personally created Pure Yang Immortal Thunder. I am only a humble Taoist, far inferior to Sect Leader, but being inspired by her, I also hoped to contribute something to our sect’s divine skills.

I made a slight gain, and shamelessly imitated Sect Leader, naming this Mysterious Thunder as Xuanxiao Immortal Thunder. The resulting divine skill, I called the Yin Thunder Dragon.

All I wish is to lay the groundwork so that the Yang Thunder Dragon of Nine Heavens Divine Thunder can soon return to the Dragon Tiger Ancestral Court."

"Master Lei, your talent is extraordinary, and your character noble, truly worthy of admiration," Lu Fang said,

Lei Jun replied, "General Lu flatters me."

Lu Fang looked at Lei Jun, whose demeanor remained calm, unshaken by either honor or humiliation, and silently thought, *Aside from talent, compared to the lively Xu Yuanzhen and Tang Xiaotang, this tall Taoist before me might actually be the better choice for Celestial Master.*

*If only his cultivation reached another level...*

Lu Fang kept such thoughts to himself, and outwardly steered the conversation back to the matter at hand, "These rebel cultivators from Mortal Tao Country have mixed in with the Blood River demon people. Whatever they’re scheming, we must interrogate them thoroughly."

Lei Jun said, "That’s only natural."

Lu Fang continued, "I’d very much like to escort them personally back to present to Prince Xiang. What do you think, Master Lei?"

Besides, he had to report Lei Jun’s new Dharma to Prince Xiang Zhang Luo and send word back to Great Tang.

Lei Jun replied, "If so, I’ll trouble General Lu to escort them for questioning. I’ll circle the area a bit more and see whether there are any more of their nests."

Lu Fang clasped his fists respectfully, "That would be ideal, Master Lei. Thank you for your hard work."

Lei Jun replied, "Not at all, General Lu, you’re much too polite."

After sending Lu Fang off, Lei Jun did not leave the valley.

Though there had been a fierce battle here, after sensing the flow of global spiritual energy in this place, he vaguely felt this site was not just some temporary hideout borrowed from Tao Zhun by the Mortal Tao Country people, but might have played a more significant role.

Lei Jun pondered for a moment, then waved his hand.

His mana turned to streams of light, sketching lines in the valley and constructing out of thin air a lifelike altar.

At first, nothing else seemed to change.

But after a short while, faint points of light began to slowly gather above the altar.

Eventually, it gradually formed an incomplete talisman scripture.

"They once performed a ritual instrument here."

Lei Jun understood, "From the looks of it, it was a ritual instrument for searching for something."

The Celestial Master Robe was a plant Lei Jun had pinned on them.

It was not what Fu Dongsen and the others were looking for—at least not what this particular ritual instrument targeted.

They knew all about the reemergence of Jiuli, yet risked getting involved for another purpose.

Lei Jun continued to use the altar to refine that half-broken talisman scripture.

Thus, the Tao containment within it kept circulating, gradually revealing itself before Lei Jun’s eyes.

Lei Jun combined the local earth vein spiritual energy patterns and began his calculations, *As he got more of a sense,*

*The direction is Zicha Ridge?*

*Probably a step behind the Mortal Tao Country people. Is there still time now...* Lei Jun wondered,

Just as this thought crossed his mind, suddenly in his consciousness he saw a sphere of light flicker, and then words appeared,

[Sword cries beneath the moon, jade shines at the dawn, calamity reemerges, face with caution.]

Then, from that sphere of light, three lots shot out,

[Moderately good lot, before midnight, head to Zicha Ridge—you might gain one Third-Rank Opportunity. Some turbulence, but no real danger. Afterwards, there’s potential for entanglements of karma, act cautiously, auspicious.]

[Moderately good lot, before midnight, head to Zhuoqing Mountain’s northern foot—you might gain one Fourth Rank Opportunity. Some turbulence, but no real danger. Afterwards, there’s potential for entanglements of karma, act cautiously, auspicious.]

[Moderately unlucky lot, after midnight, head to Zhuoqing Mountain’s northern foot—you might gain one Sixth-Rank Opportunity. Danger everywhere, be extra careful, inauspicious.]

Lei Jun carefully read the words on the glowing sphere as well as the contents of the three lots.

*A pair of moderately good lots. Naturally that’s a good thing.*

*Though none of the lots promised a smooth ride and all required caution, a Third-Rank Opportunity and Fourth Rank Opportunity were both excellent.*

*The first moderately good lot pointed to Zicha Ridge for a Third-Rank Opportunity—which meant there was still time right now.*

*The Mortal Tao Country people hadn’t succeeded yet.*

*Likely because the combined sweep of Western Regions Buddhism, Taoist Sacred Land, and Tang Imperial Court kept the pressure high enough so that, after the Mortal Tao Country found the place, they didn’t dare move boldly and risk exposure, resulting in delays.*

*What’s interesting is that the second moderately good lot mentioned Zhuoqing Mountain’s northern foot—an accidental opportunity.*

*And here, the crucial variable is time.*

*Before midnight, or after midnight.* 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

*The same location—Zhuoqing Mountain’s northern foot—but two totally different lots.*

*If he rushed there before midnight, it was much easier, and the opportunity was higher.*

*If too late, then fortune and misfortune reversed completely.*

*Something must be happening there as the clock strikes midnight.*

Lei Jun frowned slightly and glanced once more at the words "calamity reemerges" floating on the sphere, *He couldn’t help but feel a bit uneasy.*

*Upon reviewing, the wording of that moderately unlucky lot closely resembled the previous lot about Youning Lake when he tried to dodge disaster.*

*Could it be that after midnight at Zhuoqing Mountain’s northern foot, another Jiuli master might come again?*

Lei Jun’s mind raced as he contacted Master Yuan Mobai to explain how he’d previously captured Mortal Tao Country cultivators and the Blood River elder Tao Zhun here, and then discovered some clues left by the Mortal Tao Country people,

"Master, there are two locations we should test."

After listening, Yuan Mobai said, "I’m closer to Zicha Ridge, you’re nearer to Zhuoqing Mountain’s northern foot. Let’s each check one."

Lei Jun replied, "Yes, Master."

But a while later, Yuan Mobai sent another message,

"Chongyun, at Zhuoqing Mountain’s northern foot, be careful, and don’t get close for now."

Lei Jun responded, "Oh?"

"There may be a Jiuli master active there. Details unclear, but stay on guard," Yuan Mobai said,

The source of the warning was Elder Sun Li from the Samsara Abyss,

Upon receiving related news, he immediately alerted Yuan Mobai, who also notified his disciple, Lei Jun.

Lei Jun had already been wary of Zhuoqing Mountain’s northern foot after midnight.

Now, with Yuan Mobai’s warning, it confirmed some of his earlier suspicions.

*That must be where another Jiuli master intends to stir up trouble again.*

"Don’t worry, Master, I’ll be careful."

Though Lei Jun said as much, this journey looked set to repeat the last time—speaking one way, acting another.

He checked the time and then hurried toward Zhuoqing Mountain’s northern foot.

Lei Jun did as always, traveling quickly while keeping his presence hidden, all the while carefully observing his surroundings.

But before he even reached Zhuoqing Mountain, he happened to spot someone else first.

A middle-aged scholar also hurried along, passing nearby.

It was none other than Ye Liang, clan elder of the Cangzhou Ye Clan.

*Couldn’t tell whether it’s my luck or yours that’s good...* Lei Jun thought.

He took the initiative to drop most of his concealment techniques, but kept moving, continuing on his way.

Ye Liang practiced in the lineage of Confucian Divine Archery, sharp-eyed even among peers at his level.

Suddenly, his instincts flared—he spotted Lei Jun of Celestial Master Mansion traveling alone and at speed.

Ye Liang’s steps immediately faltered.

He hesitated for a moment.

But Lei Jun moved so fast, he vanished in an instant.

Ye Liang took a deep breath and, as he started walking again, quietly shifted direction to follow.