Cultivation: Fortune by Lots

But now, having met for the second time alone today, and with things still going awry, Ye Liang frowned every time he recalled it...

"Fifteenth brother, to be stirring up connections with both the Mortal Tao Country and Mount Shu at the same time, certainly carried some risk, but omens of chaos in the present age have already appeared, so making some preparations in advance was more advantageous than not."

"So, Cangzhou’s view was, even if we abandoned our family tradition, and one branch or more from our clan were to throw in with somewhere like the Mortal Tao Country, it did not matter?" Ye Dongming said, "Was this inspired by Dragon Tiger Mountain, the Li Family from Xinzhou?"

Ye Liang said, "No need to lie before an authentic master, yes, family comes before studies, people before scriptures—so long as our clan could pass down its line for generations, making the Taoist Scriptures into our family tradition, why not? However, that really was a last resort."

Ye Dongming said, "Then as a layman, you may go seek Fu Dongsen, Rong Guangchen, and the others to negotiate, but at that point, we’d no longer be allies."

Ye Liang furrowed his brow in secret, "Fifteenth brother..."

Ye Dongming appeared serene, his tone calm and composed, "I supported Fu Dongsen, years ago, in that reform to open up and innovate our sect, not remain closed off in the mountains of Bashu.

"But never did I want to found a Taoist nation in the Mortal World, for one, it was not my wish, for another, in these times, such a move would mean disaster for our sect, and ought to be avoided.

"Earlier, I failed to see through the true intentions of Fu Dongsen and the others—my own short-sightedness. But now, I would not follow their lead."

Ye Liang stared at the hemp-robed Taoist before him for a long while, finally nodding, "I understand your mind now. I will report this to the clan soon."

He spoke slowly, "As before, the Mortal Tao Country was the very worst option. Unless absolutely necessary, our clan would not consider it. So then, I ask that fifteenth brother make more preparations in Mount Shu—the clan will soon send more gifted disciples, those showing aptitude in Taoist cultivation, to Mount Shu."

Ye Dongming said, "Those who are fated, regardless of origin, I would admit them into the Way."

Though those were his words, Ye Liang heard something different in their meaning.

His expression grew instantly grave, "Fifteenth brother..."

Ye Dongming remained calm.

"Because our eldest uncle lost that battle with Xu Yuanzhen?" Ye Liang spoke again.

Ye Dongming replied, "If we’re talking about circumstances, our sect is, right now, worse off than Cangzhou."

Ye Liang said, "Then why did you come today?"

Ye Dongming said, "Because never before had the layman made these requests of me."

Ye Liang stared hard at him, nearly spelling the words out one by one, "Taoist Dongming, you—at the end of the day—still carry the Ye name!"

Ye Dongming’s expression was tranquil, his tone even, "I didn’t have to."

Ye Liang abruptly fell silent.

This time, his silence lasted longer than ever before.

"That isn’t for you to decide." Suddenly, Ye Liang smiled as well, "Just like you’ll never ascend to Head of Mount Shu, even if our clan is wiped out."

Ye Dongming said, "Doesn’t matter."

Ye Liang returned to his gentle manners, appearing civil once more, "In that case, I have nothing further to say. May Mount Shu Sect and Taoist Dongming be blessed with long years."

The two parted, neither pleased.

After Ye Liang left, he unintentionally discovered Lei Jun’s whereabouts.

And at this moment, Zhuoqing Mountain gave him yet another bad omen.

*Normally he should have planned for defeat before hoping for victory, but the situation was so dire that Ye Liang hesitated, if only for a moment.*

Just then, in the silent moonlight, the ridges seemed to tremble softly.

Ye Liang was startled at first, but quickly saw that here, on Zhuoqing Mountain’s northern slopes, dark mist began to rise.

Darker even than the night.

Darkness straight from the Earth Sea in Nine Heavens and Ten Earths.

*Ye Liang’s heart skipped, but his mind settled immediately—at the very least, what lay before him was not Lei Jun’s ambush.*

Was this Taoist searching for the Jiuli People?

Shouldn’t he focus more on the Mortal Tao Country and the Celestial Master Robe?

*Events took a turn Ye Liang hadn’t foreseen. He adjusted his position, calmed himself, and continued to watch Lei Jun.*

Lei Jun, too, shifted his stance, first avoiding the black mist.

He stopped atop a ridge, watching the black fog, meditating with a quiet hum.

*It was not yet midnight.*

The black mist linked to Jiuli had already appeared.

*At this hour, did Zhuoqing Mountain’s northern slope still correspond to a moderately good lot?*

Lei Jun was still pondering, when suddenly he felt the Immortal Seed Purple Light in his body stirring—something about it changing.

He kept his face expressionless, while masking the fluctuations in the Immortal Seed Purple Light’s aura.

*Judging by that, perhaps the luck of the lot was still accurate.*

*The difference between the moderately good and the moderately unlucky lot rested on midnight, that key hour.*

*Lei Jun understood perfectly. He checked Ye Liang’s position again.*

The other man was further back.

Likewise, still within the highland region north of Zhuoqing Mountain.

For Lei Jun, taking out Ye Liang was no trouble.

But that had never been his original intent.

There was still time to act, so he would wait and see... Lei Jun proceeded steadily, stepping into the black mist of his own volition.

Upon entering, Lei Jun’s vision was plunged into darkness. The confusion of Spiritual Energy in the mist disrupted cultivators’ perception.

The aura here, though distinct from Demonic Qi Evil Miasma, was just as disturbing to Lei Jun.

Still, gifted with the Dual Polarity Immortal Body and the Serene Insight level of comprehension, his mana and Spiritual Energy cycled quickly, adapting him to the black fog in no time.

Each movement shifted the mix of chaos and order within.

After a while, his vision grew sharper than before, and he could barely make out shapes in the black mist.

Having waited a moment, Lei Jun watched for any action from Ye Liang.

But the other man seemed to linger outside the mist, not coming after.

Lei Jun, unfazed by changing circumstances, advanced once more, heading deeper into the fog.

The mountain ridges under the black mist appeared almost unchanged from before, but had grown pitch-dark, and all the grass and trees’ vitality withered and vanished.