Cultivation: Fortune by Lots

Upon returning, he saw the portly giant panda squaring off with Chu Kun, eyeing Chu Kun's Lingji Vine with desire.

Chu Kun was both annoyed and amused. Despite his current Cultivation strength, he still found himself with few ways to handle this indolent creature.

Fortunately, the return of Lei Jun and his companion provided Chu Kun with an escape.

Gungun, the panda, was gluttonous yet picky. As it munched on the delicacies Lei Jun had brought back, its small eyes darted ceaselessly, fixated on Lei Jun.

It still seemed unsatisfied.

Clearly, it was still thinking about the Supreme Pure Golden Bamboo Lei Jun had previously promised.

"No rush, no rush," Lei Jun guessed his own expression at that moment was one of utmost sincerity and earnestness.

Meanwhile, Chu Kun quickly secured his Lingji Vine.

"Speaking of which, Senior Brother, I still don't know if there's anything you urgently need," Lei Jun asked Wang Guiyuan, who was beside him. "If I come across it in the future, I'll bring it back for you."

Hearing this, Chu Kun also looked towards Wang Guiyuan.

Wang Guiyuan, however, smiled and shook his head. "I don't need anything. You two shouldn't worry. If you were to put yourselves in danger because of this, it would be a great failing on my part."

Looking at the two junior brothers before him, Wang Guiyuan added, "I'm not just being polite; I truly don't need anything. You mustn't concern yourselves."

He glanced at Chu Kun, who was putting away his Lingji Vine, then at Lei Jun, and said with some emotion, "Junior Brothers, your Cultivation levels are rising, and your futures are boundless. In theory, each of us has our own path, and I shouldn't interfere too much. However, as your Senior Brother, I must still say this: we cultivators should always focus on ourselves, securely and steadfastly pursuing our Cultivation. That is best. Fortuitous encounters and opportunities are good to have, but it's also fine without them; they especially should not be forced. 'Crisis' implies that danger and opportunity coexist. Often, behind what we call opportunities, lie unseen dangers and future troubles."

Wang Guiyuan spoke earnestly, "The world is so unpredictable; we often only glimpse a part and not the whole. Who knows if what's considered an opportunity isn't a trap set by some powerful experts? It's like the fisherman and the bait. We, the fish, greedily bite the hook, happy for a moment, but the future is uncertain."

Lei Jun nodded. "Senior Brother is right."

Chu Kun contemplated his words, a thoughtful expression on his face.

"The world is vast, and everyone has their own plans, but how unpredictable are the affairs of this world!"

Wang Guiyuan sighed with emotion. "The sovereign of the Great Tang... well, now he should be referred to as the late Emperor. What a man of ambition he was! Yet even he, the late Emperor, died with his ambitions unfulfilled."

A few months ago, the Tang Emperor, Zhang Qilong, who had been bedridden for some time, finally succumbed to his grave injuries and passed away.

Recalling earlier times, he had held the fate of the land in his hands, relying on the nation's fortune to consistently pressure the Prestigious Families.

At that time, how spirited he was! Who could have imagined the situation would change so dramatically, overturning in the blink of an eye?

The fate of this Tang Emperor took a completely different path, coming to an abrupt end. Indeed, it could even be said that he left a colossal mess for the Tang Imperial Court.

Beyond his own demise, the Shangguan Clan—the imperial family's most trusted and influential aristocratic leaders, almost half-royal themselves—also suffered tremendous losses. The Clan Chief of the Shangguan Clan, long considered an indispensable right hand to the Tang Emperor, had fallen.

The influence of the Tang Imperial Court was significantly weakened. As the saying goes, when the ruler is young, the state is unstable.

Zhang Qilong's unexpected early death, coupled with his only son still being a child, cast a shadow over the succession in the Great Tang. Key figures in the unfolding drama included the old Prince of the Northern Border, who was the blood brother of the previous Tang Emperor; the Empress, who had overseen the Crown Prince's upbringing and whose backing by a prominent Qingzhou family was subtly apparent; and Zhang Qilong's own younger siblings...

Though Lei Jun wasn't in the Capital City, he could imagine the storms brewing there.

Last month, the matter finally reached a conclusion.

Zhang Qilong's younger sister, the current Crown Prince's aunt, Princess Zhang Wantong, succeeded her late brother. Facing south from the throne, she became the new supreme sovereign of the Great Tang Dynasty.

The Great Tang Dynasty now had its first Empress.

The official enthronement ceremony was scheduled for the following month.

This outcome was unexpected for some and anticipated by others. After all, in the battle of the Western Regions, this previously low-profile Princess of Great Tang had astounded the world with her ability to turn the tide.

Had it not been for her timely intervention alongside Elder Huang of the Pure Yang Palace, the late Emperor Zhang Qilong would likely have perished in the Western Regions, never to return to the Capital City. The ultimate outcome of the war between the Human Race and the Great Demons might also have been different.

In this world, some rules of the Cultivation World differed from those of the secular realm. The Tang Imperial Court, now more than ever, needed such a powerful figure to stabilize the shaken country, especially since both the imperial family and the Shangguan Clan had suffered heavy losses.

Rumor had it that this was also decreed in the late Emperor Zhang Qilong's final edict.

Undercurrents of controversy were naturally not absent. However, Lei Jun and the others, being outside the Capital, had difficulty knowing the details.

Yet, some future troubles were apparent to anyone. Setting other matters aside for the moment, Zhang Qilong himself still had a son.

The newly enthroned Her Majesty the Empress had already designated her own nephew as the Crown Prince of the new dynasty, stating her intention to eventually return power to her elder brother's lineage. But it was still early days, and no one could be absolutely certain of the future.

Furthermore, behind this Crown Prince, numerous shadowy figures with complex agendas were faintly discernible, causing many within the Tang Imperial Court to harbor concerns.

"In the future, there will undoubtedly be many more disturbances," Wang Guiyuan sighed.

Chu Kun said, "If it weren't for the great war in the Western Regions, where the Prestigious Families also suffered heavy casualties, and with signs of Great Demon activity in the east and north as well, a major upheaval would likely have erupted immediately."

Lei Jun looked at him.

Chu Kun spoke frankly, "Senior Brother, you needn't look at me like that. It's precisely because I come from a great clan that I have such speculations. To say something that might invite trouble, I even suspect that the demonic unrest in the Western Regions escalating to an uncontrollable scale might have been deliberately engineered by certain parties. Whether my great-grandfather, the Old Duke Chu, was involved is hard to say, but I believe those two old Ye family elders from Qingzhou and Jinzhou had a hand in it."

"Junior Brother Chu, since you know that loose lips sink ships, you should stop dwelling on it," Wang Guiyuan said, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

The three martial brothers looked at each other and simultaneously shook their heads without speaking.

As Chu Kun suspected, the new sovereign's ascension did not herald an era of peace. The world remained in turmoil, and perhaps an even greater storm lay ahead.

Just then, a sound came from the courtyard gate.

A young man in purple robes pushed open the door and entered.

Upon seeing him, Lei Jun and the others hurriedly went forward to greet him, "Master!"

The newcomer was none other than Yuan Mobai.

It was exceedingly rare for him to take the initiative to come to his disciples' residence.

Elder Yuan, always gentle and approachable, his presence as refreshing as a spring breeze, stood at the courtyard entrance. He nodded to Lei Jun and the other two before his gaze shifted to the side.

There, a giant Gungun, out of sheer boredom, was toying with a stone table in Lei Jun's courtyard, pushing it around as if it were a light plaything.

When Yuan Mobai entered, Gungun immediately shot him a wary glance, its small eyes darting about.

The two stared at each other for a long moment.

Lei Jun looked at Gungun, then at his master.

He was certain that since becoming a disciple, this was the first time he had seen such an expression on Yuan Mobai's face.

Neither shocked nor angry, neither joyful nor sorrowful.

If Lei Jun had to describe it, he felt it was… speechless. Utterly speechless.

"Chongyun, you've returned? Tell me—your Master—more details about the Mount Shu Sect in person." Yuan Mobai quickly regained his composure and turned his head, no longer looking at Gungun.

Wang Guiyuan gently pulled Chu Kun. "Master, please speak with Junior Brother Lei. We will take our leave first and return for the evening session."

Yuan Mobai nodded.

Wang Guiyuan and Chu Kun then bid farewell to Lei Jun and departed.

Thus, only two men and one Gungun remained in the courtyard. Hmm, perhaps it would be more accurate to say one man and two Gunguns…

"You rebellious disciple!" Yuan Mobai sighed, looking skyward, addressing Lei Jun this way for the first time.

Fortunately, he wasn't truly angry. Though there was a rare hint of displeasure, his expression was more one of exasperation.

The Gungun, however, was still somewhat puzzled. Although Gungun possessed great Spiritual Nature, from its current perspective, Yuan Mobai seemed to be just another human, like Lei Jun.

Lei Jun said, "Master, please don't blame me. It was truly a coincidence. In fact, it was attracted by that Supreme Pure Golden Bamboo and found its way to your disciple."

Yuan Mobai retorted, "So, it's your Master's fault then?"

"This disciple wouldn't dare," Lei Jun said, glancing at the Gungun. "However, Master, do you happen to have any relatives in Bashu?"

"…"

Yuan Mobai flicked his sleeve and walked into the house with his hands clasped behind his back.

Lei Jun patted the giant Gungun, and they both followed.