Cultivation: Fortune by Lots

Aside from Lei Jun and Tang Xiaotang, the Lecture Ceremony two years ago gathered the most outstanding transmission disciples that the Celestial Master Mansion had seen in more than a decade, with many seed players. No one expected that, in the blink of an eye, two would be lost.

Fang Jian, one of the four disciples personally taught by the previous Celestial Master, had recently succeeded in breaking through the Heavenly Moat Tribulation to reach the Four-layered Heaven Yuan Talisman Realm. If it weren't for him, everyone would genuinely wonder if this batch of Talisman-Instructed Disciples was cursed en masse. Fortunately, after Fang Jian, Xia Qing and Luo Haoran also successively managed to cross the Heavenly Moat Tribulation. People in the Celestial Master Mansion finally breathed a collective sigh of relief. As for Chu Andong and Li Zhenchang, everyone could only express their condolences.

"Master Chu has arrived."

One day, Chu Kun mentioned their little lady from the Suzhou Chu Clan. "And the parents of Chong'an," he added. In terms of seniority, they were his great-uncle and great-aunt.

Wang Guiyuan inquired, "Are they coming to take Chu back to Suzhou?"

Chu Kun shook his head. "They are indeed here to take Chong'an back to Suzhou, but it is only for convalescence and to ease his mind. Later on, they will still send Chong'an back to Our Sect." Lei Jun and Wang Guiyuan both nodded slightly.

Chu Andong's failure in his Tribulation Crossing was unfortunate, but at least he still had his life. Although the incident occurred within Dragon Tiger Mountain, it was all a matter of fate. Chu Andong failed in his own Tribulation Crossing, not due to disturbance or persecution by others. Such events were not only common in the past at the Celestial Master Mansion but also within the Suzhou Chu Clan. Therefore, neither Chu Andong himself nor the Suzhou Chu Clan could hold a grudge against the Longhu Mountain Celestial Master's Mansion over this.

Although Chu Andong was gravely injured and his recovery difficult, he was still a True Inheritance Disciple of the Celestial Master Mansion. For similar cases, the mansion had its conventions and would properly arrange the future duties and lives of such disciples based on their individual situations. However, before that, having the family take Chu Andong back to Suzhou for convalescence, to change the environment and calm his mind, was also reasonable, and naturally, the mansion would facilitate this. It was somewhat unusual, though, for Chu Yu, who was now a core member of the Chu Clan, to come in person.

Lei Jun, Wang Guiyuan, and Chu Kun speculated that Chu Yu's visit to Dragon Tiger Mountain, apart from taking Chu Andong back, was likely to discuss another important matter with the higher-ups of Dragon Tiger Mountain. There were probably two main themes. Firstly, it was undoubtedly the impact of the changeover of the Tang Emperor and the ensuing shifts in the Great Tang empire. Secondly, the position of the new head of the Jiangzhou Lin Clan, which had been as difficult to determine as the New Heavenly Master and had been unresolved for many years, now seemed to show signs of being settled. The Suzhou Chu Clan, situated downstream of the Grand River, surely had a lot to discuss with Dragon Tiger Mountain in neighboring Xinzhou regarding this matter.

Having already visited Chu Andong, Lei Jun and Wang Guiyuan were not involved further at this point, while Chu Kun went to receive his kinsman Chu Yu and the others. Later, according to etiquette, he would also see off Chu Yu, Chong'an, and their party as they departed the mountain.

Lei Jun continued to focus on his own cultivation, having gradually reached a crucial period in his practice. Reliance solely on the Five-Element Tao Treasure Sand was proving unreliable. Whether he could smoothly push open the gate between the Fourth Layer of Heaven and the Fifth Heaven Layer depended on his own richer accumulation.

However, just when Dragon Tiger Mountain had been at peace for a while, it seemed new signs indicated a descent into a troubled autumn was imminent. Some outside matters momentarily interrupted Lei Jun's cultivation.

Another True Inheritance Disciple of the Celestial Master Mansion had fallen. Various signs indicated that it happened within the boundaries of Xinzhou, not far from Dragon Tiger Mountain.

"So close?" Lei Jun furrowed his brows.

Wang Guiyuan sighed. "Master Song and Elder Liang are on edge; we'd better avoid crossing paths with them these days."

The disciple who had met with disaster was yet another descendant from the lineage of Supreme Elder Li Song. As the oldest and most senior Elder in the Celestial Master Mansion, Li Song had many disciples and grand-disciples. Li Song's own children were comparatively mediocre. Among his disciples' generation, his most accomplished pupil was surnamed Liang, named Chen—a pillar among the second-generation Elders within the mansion, with a Sixth Heavenly Layer Cultivation, and one to be mentioned alongside names like Xia Bo. And Li Song's grandson, Li Kong, was taken under the wing of Elder Liang Chen.

What gratified Li Song was that, unlike his comparatively mediocre children, his grandson Li Kong was extremely talented. Although less talented than Xu Yuanzhen, Li Zhengxuan, and Tang Xiaotang, he could compete with Zhang Jingzhen, Li Xuan, and Xia Xiushan. He was among the outstanding figures of the new generation within the Celestial Master Mansion. Following Li Kong, disciples like Li Zhenchang and Chu Andong were also excellent.

However, just a short while ago, the mansion suffered the consecutive losses of Li Zhenchang and Chu Andong, both exceptional inheritors from Li Song's lineage. Now, would there be another? Were they specifically targeting this lineage for persecution? Neither Supreme Elder Li Song nor Elder Liang Chen, no matter how good-natured, could tolerate this. Nor could the Celestial Master Mansion allow its young disciples to be harmed under its very nose. Immediately, the mansion mobilized fully, initiating an extensive investigation and manhunt.

Li Kong visited many fellow disciples, pleading for their aid. He did not go so far as to forcefully drag Lei Jun into participation, yet Lei Jun agreed. Wang Guiyuan, at his side, was exceptionally surprised. He wanted to signal Lei Jun, but with Li Kong present, it was not appropriate to make any overt gestures.

"With the criminal so rampant, if we do not punish him severely and swiftly, where would Our Sect's credibility stand? When the younger disciples venture out from the mountain, it's inevitable that they will all feel at risk," Lei stated with righteous indignation. He turned to Wang Guiyuan and said magnanimously, "Senior Brother, shall we join forces?"

Wang Guiyuan sighed. "Our Master is currently engaged in Alchemy, and we need to watch over his Pill Furnace. Zhongguang has left the mountain to see off Master Chu and Chong'an. Now, with you also leaving the mountain, Chongyun, I have no choice but to stay behind."

"Master Yuan is busy with many responsibilities, and it's difficult for him to divide his attention. Indeed, someone needs to stay here to keep watch." Li Kong did not insist further on Wang Guiyuan's participation. He then turned to Lei with a Taoist Sect bow to express gratitude. "Thank you, Lei!"