Cultivation: Fortune by Lots

"A Spiritual Object nourished by the Nine Sacred Frost Dew?"

Upon hearing this, Lei Jun's eyes lit up.

Upon careful contemplation, he felt it was just as Yuan Mobai had said.

He recalled something. "Just like the Weiji Bowl and Jiji Stone from before, could it be that the Spiritual Object nourished by the Nine Sacred Frost Dew also cannot be just anything?"

When he had the chance to enhance his comprehension by obtaining the Huo Sui Yang Yu, both Xu Yuanzhen and Yuan Mobai told him that in addition to the Water Marrow Yin Fish—the counterpart of the Huo Sui Yang Yu—at least one more Spiritual Object that could harmonize Yin and Yang was needed to work in conjunction.

Spiritual Objects capable of harmonizing Yin and Yang, though rare and precious, are not limited to just one or two varieties.

Especially since the Celestial Master Mansion on Dragon Tiger Mountain, as a Sacred Land of the Taoist Talisman Sect, has always valued the harmony of Yin and Yang, the convergence of dragon and tiger.

However, in reality, Spiritual Objects suitable for Lei Jun that could harmonize Yin and Yang were not common.

In the end, it was by a fortuitous coincidence that he obtained the Weiji Bowl.

Thus, it's evident that so-called opportunities each have their unique aspects and cannot be compromised. Just as the Celestial Master Seal itself cannot elevate a cultivator's innate talent. Not until he encountered the special circumstances with the Nine Sacred Frost Dew.

"Yes, it should be a specific type of Spiritual Object that, after being nourished and cultivated by the Nine Sacred Frost Dew, can work in conjunction with the True One Altar of the Celestial Master Seal."

Yuan Mobai nodded. "And it's likely not just these two components; at least one more is needed."

Taoists have always emphasized the harmony of the three talents of heaven, earth, and man.

Since Lei Jun has entered the Taoist Sect, he is invisibly bound by the fate of Qi; to undergo a rebirth, he also needs three kinds of opportunities to merge.

At the very least, it's a situation where more is better.

"Disciple will keep an eye out for the third opportunity," Lei Jun said. "If the first two can be confirmed, would finding the third be relatively clear and simple?"

Yuan Mobai replied, "At least the chances are greater."

The first, the Celestial Master Seal and the True One Altar, has been confirmed.

But the second...

"Disciple doesn't mind taking a closer look," Lei Jun frowned slightly, "but the Nine Sacred Frost Dew is limited, not enough to try them one by one."

Yuan Mobai smiled. "You worry too much; the Celestial Master Seal will assist you."

Lei Jun understood. "That would be best."

The master and disciple chatted a bit more, and Lei Jun took his leave.

Before leaving, he suddenly asked in a soft voice, "Master, when Disciple inadvertently obtained the Weiji Bowl in the Great Elixir Room, was it... Eldest Master's doing?"

Although a new Celestial Master had not been enthroned, since the former Celestial Master Li Qingfeng had passed away, it was not appropriate to continue addressing him as Celestial Master or Sect Leader.

"I believe it was Qingfeng's handiwork," Yuan Mobai nodded slightly.

It wasn't that Li Qingfeng had specifically crafted a Weiji Bowl for Lei Jun.

Back then, it was Li Qingfeng who secretly refined an elixir for himself, handling a medicine bowl in the process, which then acquired its own Spiritual Nature, thus becoming the Weiji Bowl.

Later on, Lei Jun, by a stroke of luck, obtained the treasure before the Weiji Bowl lost its Spiritual Nature.

But why would the esteemed Celestial Master Li Qingfeng secretly undertake Alchemy?

"Initially, Disciple thought that Eldest Master deliberately exposed a flaw, intending to feign weakness and lure enemies into a trap," Lei Jun said. "But based on subsequent developments, Eldest Master's own condition seemed rather dire, akin to a risky gamble."

Yuan Mobai said, "The specific details are probably only known to Qingfeng himself."

He stood up and slowly paced the hall, with Lei Jun following behind.

"According to the information I hold, Qingfeng's condition was indeed not good prior to the battle. Samsara Descend is one of the most mysterious and supreme evil arts from the Curse-Proclaiming Lineage—or, one might say, the Decapitation Arts lineage—of the Southern Wilderness.

Despite its primitive and savage nature, its power is undeniably formidable. Even with Qingfeng's abilities, he could only suppress it over the years, unable to remove it."

Yuan Mobai stopped and said, "What's worse, Qingfeng was not only afflicted with Samsara Descend. In that battle years ago, Qingfeng was also inflicted with the Time Worm from the Witchcraft Gu Techniques lineage."

Lei Jun pondered. "Although the sect's records do not have a detailed description of the Time Worm, there are some mentions..."

The Time Worm, alongside Samsara Descend, is one of the most elite secret arts of the Southern Witch Sect.

It is a Worm Art so insidious it harms others while offering no benefit to the user.

Its effect is to consume a person's lifespan.

When used on oneself, it temporarily enhances other aspects at the cost of lifespan, granting a powerful boost in battle power for a short time—it's a last-ditch move to be used sparingly, if at all.

When used on an enemy, both oneself and the enemy burn lifespan together, both suffering loss of life years.

"Eldest Master's lifespan, is it not as long as a normal Upper Three Heavens Cultivator's?" Lei Jun looked to Yuan Mobai.

Yuan Mobai nodded slightly.

Lei Jun immediately grasped his meaning.

In normal circumstances, with Li Qingfeng's cultivation, though he couldn't completely remove Samsara Descend, he could suppress it enough to prevent it from causing overly adverse effects.

But due to the reduction of life years from the Time Worm, Li Qingfeng's lifespan was shortened.

This meant that he might experience a decline in vitality and strength due to old age—exceeding a certain limit would mean he could no longer suppress Samsara Descend.

"This matter is highly secretive. I only became aware of it around the time of Qingfeng's last battle," Yuan Mobai sighed softly.

That would explain why the former Celestial Master was willing to take such a risk... Lei Jun thought to himself.

Yuan Mobai continued, "The Southern Witch Sect's internal strife is bloody, and the battles fierce, so their relations with the outside world often change drastically.

Samsara Abyss, the Sacred Land of the Curse-Proclaiming Lineage, has seen most of those who bore enmity with our sect pass away. The current master of Samsara Abyss, in order to subdue others within the Witchcraft Sect, has begun making overtures to our sect..."

Lei Jun chuckled at the words.

In a world where the ruling banner atop the city walls changed frequently, such an incident was hardly surprising.

"During the battle back then, our sect also captured some sacred artifacts of the Southern Witch Sect. The master of Samsara Abyss took an interest in one of them. In exchange, he assisted Qingfeng in removing the Samsara Descend curse and even developed a method to transfer Samsara Descend to someone else," Yuan Mobai explained methodically. "Lin Qun, the Clan Chief of the Lin Clan in Jiangzhou, suffered due to his ignorance of this fact.

However, though Samsara Descend was lifted, some residual effects remained, and the lifespan consumed by the Time Worm was difficult to recover. Consequently, Qingfeng's choices afterwards became unavoidably more aggressive."

Lei Jun's view on this was that this predecessor Celestial Master did not have much faith in the wisdom of later generations. He wanted to solve everything within his own tenure. Whether such a notion is good or bad is a matter of personal opinion.

But undeniably, the simultaneous deaths of Celestial Master Li Qingfeng above the Grand River and Lin Qun, the Lin Clan Chief in Jiangzhou, had far-reaching effects.

The ripples haven't completely settled even now.

After chatting with his master, Yuan Mobai, for a while longer, Lei Jun left his mansion and returned to his own residence.

What's past is prologue, for people to reference.

As for Lei Jun, some matters didn't require his concern yet.

Focusing earnestly on his own cultivation was sufficient.

Although he intended to find suitable Spiritual Objects to nurture with the Nine Sacred Frost Dew, Lei Jun left it to fate and didn't insist on it.

Sharpening the axe won't delay the work of cutting firewood—indeed, that's correct. Refining a Sacred Body earlier would definitely speed up his cultivation, but Lei Jun didn't plan to spend a lot of time and energy just searching.

He still followed his own pace in cultivation and life.

Lei Jun first solidified his foundation.

His cultivation had improved from the Third Heavenly Layer realm to the Fourth Heavenly Layer realm, bringing about enormous changes within him, which Lei Jun took some time to adapt to.

He aimed to master his body to the smallest detail, leaving no stone unturned within the limits of his current abilities.

First and foremost, he started with the physical aspect of his martial arts.

In general, the progression from the Altar Stage to the Original Talisman Stage brought the largest improvement to his Divine Soul Spirit, with relatively smaller changes to his Corporeal Life Mastery.

Yet now, every punch and kick from Lei Jun carried immense power.

The Spiritual Nature of the Bear King's Mysterious Gall was further utilized.

If he could one day achieve the cultivation of the Fifth Heaven Layer Tao Palace Realm, his Corporeal Life Mastery would once again greatly improve.

After practicing his punches for a few sets, Lei Jun stopped and took a moment to calm his mind and regulate his breath.

Then, he suddenly lifted his hand.

Above his head, an Original Talisman, nine feet high and four feet wide, shimmered with Spirit Light.

This time, without needing to perform an Altar ritual, or even use a brush, ink, paper, or inkstone, Lei Jun casually drew a Basic Spirit Talisman with a simple wave of his hand!

What's more, it was high-grade.

To create an exquisite Basic Spirit Talisman, I still need a Talisman Brush and Talisman Ink. Lei Jun nodded slightly, clear in his mind.

Previously, following his Talisman-bestowment, Yuan Mobai had already passed on to him the third volume of the True Formula of the Great Way Scripture and the Talisman Scripture for High-grade Spirit Talismans.

To make High-grade Spirit Talismans, with Lei Jun's current cultivation, he would still need to set up an Altar Field and follow specific rituals.

But Lei Jun was in no rush for the time being.

He then took out two other objects.

The Breathing Soil Banner.

The Supreme Pure Golden Bamboo.

As a Middle Three Heavens Cultivator now, compared to his time in the Lower Three Heavens, Lei Jun could finally bring out more of the abilities of these two treasures.

Previously, the Breathing Soil Banner could only protect him.

Now, not only was the protective effect stronger, but Lei Jun, by wielding the spirit banner, also developed a certain level of offensive capability.

As for the Supreme Pure Golden Bamboo, in Lei Jun's hands now, all it took was a thought to make it shine with dazzling golden light.

Beneath the circulating brilliance, it even extended forward an illusory segment, making the original short stick—which was about one and a half feet long—appear to be over three feet in length.

The extended part may have seemed illusory, but Lei Jun knew from a single swing that this was the concentrated spiritual power essence of the Supreme Pure Golden Bamboo, even more powerful and impressive.

...Though the appearance does seem a bit stranger now. Hmm, it's good to adjust the style. I am a man of imposing bearing, open and honorable... Lei Jun nodded slightly to himself.

The other Spiritual Object, the Dragon Horse Scales, seemed somewhat redundant for Lei Jun at the moment.

Given his current Cultivation Realm and strength, the defensive abilities of the Dragon Horse Scales weren't indispensable, though they were not completely useless either.

I'll keep them for now, to see if they have other uses later.

While Lei Jun thought this, he didn't just leave the item unattended.

He experimented, integrating the Dragon Horse Scales with the Gold-threaded Robe given to him by Fang Yue, making it seem as if an extra heart-protecting mirror had been added to the robe.

As Lei Jun had limited experience with Artifact Refining, he found it somewhat awkward.

But he enjoyed the process.

It was the chance to deal with these novel items that kept his interest in cultivation strong.

「However, a few days later, Lei Jun received a notification that temporarily put a stop to all his various research activities.」

"Chongyun, get ready," Master Yuan Mobai said. "The Supreme Pure Thunder Mansion Cave Heaven is about to open. You, the group of Talisman-Instructed Disciples, will enter for a period of trials."

The Supreme Pure Thunder Mansion Cave Heaven, one of Dragon Tiger Mountain's most important secret Cave Heavens, hung perennially above the main peak, concealed among the thunderclouds, resembling an immortal realm.

Not only Disciples from the Celestial Master Mansion but countless cultivators across the world yearned to enter.