Cultivation: Fortune by Lots

The Celestial Master Mansion had often introduced new Spirit Talismans over the years, and this had been one of its important channels.

However, others who came to cultivate the Talisman Skills created by Lei Jun often found them not as suitable as they were for Lei Jun himself, and the power unleashed was also weaker.

Ultimately, cultivating the Tao always comes back to cultivating oneself.

What suits oneself is the best.

At least, in the Lower Three Heavens and the Middle Three Heavens, this principle applies to the vast majority of cases.

After the Heavenly General Talisman, Lei Jun held a ritual again to focus on drawing another type of High-grade Spirit Talisman.

This time, the High-grade Spirit Talisman was called the Wind-Thunder Talisman, also known as the Day-and-Night Wind-Thunder Talisman, or alternatively, the Swift-As-Wind Lightning-Strike Talisman.

When Lei Jun employed this Talisman Skill, he acquired the Wind-Thunder Chariot.

It was based on the upgrade and improvement of his Second Lifebound Skill, the Wind Riding Talisman.

Through the interchangeable application of the Divine Strike, Wind Riding, and Five Thunders talismans, the original Wind Riding Talisman underwent unique changes.

By controlling the Wind-Thunder Chariot, two forms could be achieved: Day Thunder and Night Wind. Day Thunder was violent and swift, while Night Wind was hidden and quiet.

Similarly, for Lei Jun personally, this was also currently the Spirit Talisman most suitable for his movement techniques and Escape Skills.

As for his previous Lifebound Third Skill, the Five Thunder Talisman, the sublimation of its essence led Lei Jun to name it the Dark Five-Thunder Orthodox Talisman.

Thus, with his cultivation having advanced to the Fourth Layer of Heaven realm, Lei Jun's Three Lifesaving Techniques transformed into:

The First Art, the Heavenly General Talisman.

The Second Art, the Wind-Thunder Talisman.

The Third Art, the Dark Five-Thunder Orthodox Talisman.

The question now before him was that he could choose a new Life-Bound Magic Art for himself.

The Life-Bound Magic Arts of Middle Three Heavens Cultivators are customarily called Lifebound Skills, not Arts.

Therefore, a Fourth Layer of Heaven cultivator may cultivate their own life-bound First Law.

Fifth Heaven Layer cultivators often cultivate an additional life-bound Second Law.

Sixth Heavenly Layer cultivators, on the basis of the First Art, Second Art, Third Art, First Law, and Second Law, add another life-bound Third Law.

Over the many years since the Longhu Mountain Celestial Master's Mansion was founded, countless predecessors had tried and summarized classical combinations for the choice of Life-Bound Magic Arts.

In the Lower Three Heavens, "Metal Wind Thunder" was popular, consisting of the Golden Barrier Talisman, Wind Riding Talisman, and Thunderclap Talisman—a comprehensive blend of defense, movement, and attack.

A considerable number of the Celestial Master Mansion's transmission disciples chose this combination.

Even for their sworn enemy, the Yellow Sky Sect, "Metal Wind Thunder" was likewise the most classic combination.

The Lower Three Heavens have the "Metal Wind Thunder" three Arts, and in the Middle Three Heavens, the three Laws collectively known as "Fighting Twin Thunders" are the most popular.

These are the three major Schools of Dharma: the Star-stepping Spell, Dragon-Tiger Dual Spirits, and the Five Thunder Righteous Talisman.

Both the Star-stepping Spell and Dragon-Tiger Dual Spirits are not Spirit Talismans, but rather two superior Schools of Dharma that emerged from years of inheritance in the Longhu Mountain Celestial Master's Mansion.

The former allows one to walk with the steps and pay respects to constellations. Starlight would enwrap the body as if blessed by a Star River, significantly enhancing one's speed and physical ability. It also facilitated other Schools of Dharma for Talisman-Instructed Disciples of the Celestial Master Mansion.

As Lei Jun would say in a gaming term from his previous life, it's a sustained status skill that greatly improves various physical states. Because of its versatility, it is quite popular.

As for Dragon-Tiger Dual Spirits, it involves using one's Mana to manifest the Wind Tiger and Cloud Dragon.

Although the dragon and tiger formed by Mana are not real living beings, they are still connected to the creator's spirit and can be commanded by the creator. Therefore, they have a wide variety of uses.

Even when not engaged in Duels of Magic with external enemies, during Artifact Refining or alchemy, the dragon and tiger could provide assistance by accompanying and blending the elements. This made them equally popular.

Regarding the Five Thunder Righteous Talisman, there is no need for further explanation; cultivating it allows one to attain the Five Thunder True Skills and enjoy the reputation of being the foremost among the High-grade Spirit Talismans of the Celestial Master Mansion.

External forces have even given the Five Thunder Righteous Talisman a nickname: Celestial Master's Talisman Technique.

Even counting the Yellow Sky Sect, these three are the most chosen Schools of Dharma among the Middle Three Heavens Cultivators in the Taoist Talisman Sect.

For Lei Jun at this moment, his thought was...

He wanted them all! He was spoiled for choice. But he also had many ideas of his own. It's just a pity that there aren't enough slots for Life-Bound Magic Arts!

Lei Jun shook his head with a sigh. He still needed to select with care.

While Lei Jun was pondering over this matter, his senior martial brother Wang Guiyuan arrived.

"Master has ordered me to go with you," Wang Guiyuan said.

Lei Jun asked curiously, "Do you know what it's about?"

As they walked, Wang Guiyuan replied, "Probably..." His expression was slightly odd. "It's somewhat related to that person in the capital city, isn't it?"

While speaking, he pointed upward with his index finger.

The current Great Tang Emperor?

Lei Jun was curious, "How so?"

Wang Guiyuan touched his lips. "The current emperor has decreed the recruitment of talents from all over the world to form the Suppressing Demon Guards, to deal with the chaos caused by monsters and demonic paths everywhere."

Lei Jun raised an eyebrow. The Tang Emperor actually came up with such a scheme?

"Isn't our emperor afraid that the Five Clans and Seven Families will throw a wrench in the works?" Lei Jun asked.

Wang Guiyuan replied, "That's for the current emperor and his capable ministers, who are setting up the Suppressing Demon Guards, to consider."

As the two martial brothers chatted, they arrived outside Yuan Mobai's residence. Wang Guiyuan then said, "It is said that the decree has been issued to all the Sacred Lands. Though not mandatory, it seeks to recruit capable individuals from each to take up their posts in the capital."

Wang Guiyuan said, his mouth curving into a smile, "Additionally, there's a rumor, true or not, that the Suppressing Demon Guards will be divided into a North and South Court, each with different duties. It's unclear how they will be arranged."

...This subtle sense of déjà vu.

Upon hearing this, Lei Jun was momentarily speechless. Compared to the North and South Court, perhaps the Light and Dark Court would be more apt?

The Great Tang imperial court already had a covertly managed network responsible for overseeing the four corners of the world.

If Lei Jun had to guess, the Tang Emperor's new establishment of the Suppressing Demon Guards likely wasn't because he was dissatisfied with or had lost control of the previous spy network and needed to start anew. It was more an attitude of expansion.

The Jiangzhou Lin Clan and the Longhu Mountain Celestial Master's Mansion had been at a stalemate for over a thousand years. Consequently, they had already fallen behind in the traditional hierarchy of the Five Clans and Seven Families.

After the clan chief, Lin Qun, fell, the Lin Clan's succession struggle remained unsettled to this day. An important piece was missing from the map of Prestigious Families.

With the situation unbalanced, the Tang Emperor might be looking to expand his victories or have other plans.

Establishing the Suppressing Demon Guards to further gather talents from across the world, directly under his command.

Lei Jun speculated, "The Light Court might handle the meddling from the Five Clans and Seven Families, but the Dark Court, perhaps that's meant for the real dirty work?"

The problem was that although the major Sacred Cultivation Grounds were closely affiliated with the Great Tang imperial court and stood united against the Noble Clans, most people likely wouldn't be keen on walking in the dark. They would not want to become the Tang Emperor's nighttime blade.

Lei Jun exchanged a glance with his senior martial brother Wang Guiyuan. "The Tang Emperor wouldn't be unconventional enough to recruit talent indiscriminately, regardless of their background, would he?"

Each of the major Sacred Lands has its orthodox traditions, but they all have their fringe elements to some extent. Even heretical figures who had defected from their sects, becoming calamities upon the land.

If you think about it more broadly, recruiting from the Yellow Sky Sect under certain circumstances, or from similar forces, isn't out of the question. And if you broaden your thoughts further, there are also remarkable individuals or Loose Cultivators in the borderlands of the Southern Wilderness, Northern Vastness, and other places...

Lei Jun coolly commented, "This is quite the spectacle."

But it had little to do with him. He was just waiting to watch the show. However, for someone like Chen Yi, perhaps he would consider joining the Suppressing Demon Guards?

"The decision has been made in the mansion, in response to the emperor's decree, to send disciples to the capital to participate in the creation of the Suppressing Demon Guards, aiding the common people and the state," Yuan Mobai spoke calmly.

Lei Jun and Wang Guiyuan remained composed. Yuan Mobai was well aware of their perspectives. The mansion wouldn't force them to obey the decree and go to the capital.

"Master, from the mansion, who will be sent to the Light Court or the Dark Court?" Lei Jun asked.

Although there was no mention of the Light and Dark Courts in the decree, Yuan Mobai understood Lei Jun's meaning as soon as he heard it.

He slowly said, "Both."

Lei Jun was slightly surprised. "Who's going to the Dark Court? Did they volunteer?"

"I believe it was settled through consultation. However, the person in question is very calm about it, not pressured," Yuan Mobai said. "Preliminary decisions are for three people, starting with Chongxuan..."

PFFT!

Wang Guiyuan, who had just raised a cup to his lips, spat out his water.

"Master, forgive my rudeness," Wang Guiyuan said, unusually astonished. "What did you just say?"

Yuan Mobai nodded slowly. "Chongxuan."

Taoist name Li Chongxuan.

Given name Li Xuan.

Elder son of Elder Ziyang.

"Hehe."

Lei Jun remarked, "They are all little masters of making a scene."