Cultivation: Fortune by Lots

Lei Jun stared at that presence which seemed like both light and mist, *his heart full of questions and suspicions*.

The name Rising Dome Liuhua, he had only ever seen mentioned in tomes, and rumor had it that it had not appeared in the world for many years.

The Xiaoxue Peak region in the middle reaches of the Xinjiang River, though scenic and beautiful, was by no means a top-tier Blessed Land Cave Heaven.

For something like Rising Dome Liuhua to appear out of nowhere in a place like this was anything but ordinary.

No other spiritual objects or related anomalies could be found in the vicinity.

This treasure’s origins were suspicious, certainly not naturally birthed by this place, and most likely had been brought here by someone else.

It simply looked like it had been scattered at random, yet Lei Jun, upon careful inspection, sensed there must be a deeper secret hidden here.

The purpose of this Rising Dome Liuhua was to greatly help cultivators strengthen their connection with heaven and earth, aiding them in understanding natural principles and making them their own.

At the same time, it also could be employed in the refining of many magic artifacts and ceremonial implements, assisting cultivators in creating high-grade treasures and artifacts.

The effects were broadly applicable: Daoist cultivators, Buddhist practitioners, Confucian scholars, even Witch Gate cultivators, all had their use for it.

In fact, martial cultivators focused on weapon strikes, seeking to forge divine weapons, could benefit tremendously from Rising Dome Liuhua during the process as well.

It could truly be called a heavenly material and earth treasure with wide applicability and exceptionally potent effects, but it was so scarce that historical records described it in only a few strokes.

Lei Jun collected the light-mist here as he pondered deeply, *his heart gradually forming a clearer understanding*.

The circumstances at Xiaoxue Peak suggested that someone earlier had used Rising Dome Liuhua as an aid in artifact refining or creation.

Yet when it came to the specific clues and details, absolutely nothing remained.

Lei Jun’s pupils subtly flashed with the Heaven-piercing Earth-penetrating Taliscript, and the glow of the Mysterious Void Mirror grew brighter too.

But unfortunately, no further discoveries were made.

Why had the person not retrieved the remaining Rising Dome Liuhua, but instead left such a prized treasure to dissipate here?

*Did they not care, or was there another story behind it...* Lei Jun mused.

Referencing the origins of the lot and the place where Luo Haoran found Qin Caiwei, the matter ought to relate to that newly arrived girl in the Tao Boy Court.

But he did not know exactly what that relationship was.

For Lei Jun personally, this Rising Dome Liuhua was undoubtedly one of the most needed spiritual objects at present.

If the Eight Scenic Winds, helpful to cultivators overcoming the Heavenly Chasm Tribulation between the Seventh and Eighth Heavenly Layers, could be called a far-off water,

then Rising Dome Liuhua, without question, could be called the near solution for thirst.

With this spiritual object, if Lei Jun did not use it for artifact refining, but instead supported his own cultivation, then he could rapidly accelerate the next stage of cultivation, complete the seventh layer’s accumulation in even less time, and make the final preparations for the leap to the eighth.

This stuff really was the real deal. 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

But its peculiar origin, *left Lei Jun somewhat uneasy inside*.

Though the best lot drawn indicated great fortune with neither current risk nor future worry, Lei Jun was not about to rush into things.

He hurried to collect the Rising Dome Liuhua before it dispersed at noon, but then he sealed it away without using it.

Afterwards, Lei Jun searched the area again and kept watch for a while, and when he was sure there was nothing else to find, he returned to the Ancestral Courtyard of the Sect.

Sitting inside his cave mansion, the Heaven-piercing Earth-penetrating Taliscript in Lei Jun’s pupils continued to flash with light.

Scenes from the Tao Boy Court unfolded before his eyes.

The girl surnamed Qin had now changed into the gray Taoist robe customarily worn by Tao Boys in the Celestial Master Mansion, and was being shown around by Luo Haoran as she learned the ropes in the Tao Boy Court.

By convention, she’d officially bow and pledge herself to the Three Jewels at tomorrow’s morning lesson, then join everyone else for the class.

The girl seemed fairly curious, peering around and inspecting things, but her temperament appeared steady—she listened more than she spoke and did not wander about.

No matter how he looked, she seemed spiritually gifted, yet at this moment, she was just a normal, somewhat ordinary girl.

Lei Jun watched for a moment, then withdrew his gaze.

The lot drawn for fortune this time offered only a best lot and a neutral lot of complete peace.

No mention was made of current danger or future threat in the fortune.

*Lei Jun was somewhat mindful, yet with no thread of evidence for now, he did not let it trouble him further*.

As the new year approached and the annual grand ceremony drew near,

Celestial Master Tang no longer cared about the yearly ritual, and would not preside in person, yet according to the rites, as long as she was not in closed-door training, she would still attend.

Lei Jun feigned indifference, chatting casually with Tang Xiaotang, "Little senior sister, any young Tao Boys lately catch your eye?"

Tang Xiaotang had occupied the position of Celestial Master for more than ten years.

But she had never taken on a direct disciple.

Considering her age and disposition, no one felt urgency; people occasionally proposed junior candidates to Celestial Master Tang, mostly just to try their luck.

Sadly, Celestial Master Tang’s standards were so high that no one had ever met them.

Lei Jun sounded casual with his question, and Tang Xiaotang replied just as offhandedly, "Haven’t found one, not a big deal, if the day comes I’ll go out and look for myself."

"If you’re holding out for someone with talent equal to your own, that truly won’t be easy," Lei Jun said,

In fact, Qin Caiwei’s innate aptitude was not merely high; it was exceptionally high.

The Celestial Master Mansion had plenty of talent, but among the current generation, only Zhuo Baojie from Lei Jun’s branch, and Xu Rui, officially listed under Li Zhengxuan but taught by Fang Jian these years, could compare.

Luo Haoran had come across an unpolished gem—give it a little polishing and it would shine.

And from Tang Xiaotang, Lei Jun had already gotten the answer he wanted.

*Not sensing any malice from Qin Caiwei, he could let things rest for now*.

But that did not mean all was well and forgotten, that he could simply act as if nothing had happened—Lei Jun was not about to lose sleep over this, but he would continue paying attention in the days to come.