Cultivation: Fortune by Lots

In the following days, Lei Jun continued his cultivation.

On one hand, having successfully combined the Yin Yang Er Gang, he began to formally establish his second Tao Palace.

The Southern Dragon Tiger Palace.

It begins with the heart fire, creating Qi of the Sun.

This was traditionally the first Tao Palace for male disciples of Dragon Tiger Mountain.

However, since Lei Jun started with the Central Three Pure Ones Palace, this Southern Dragon Tiger Palace was placed second in line.

The third Tao Palace Lei Jun anticipated constructing was the Northern Mysterious Underworld Taoist Palace, which begins with the kidney water, creating Taiyin Qi, rather than the Western Spiritual Officer Palace, which is typically built as the third palace by male disciples.

After achieving the Yin Yang Sacred Body, Lei Jun started with the Central Three Pure Ones Palace that balances yin and yang, followed by the Southern Dragon Tiger Palace and the Northern Mysterious Underworld Taoist Palace that nurtured Qi of the Sun and Taiyin Qi, making his overall cultivation smoother going forward.

Besides steadily improving his own cultivation realm, the second thing Lei Jun was busy with was continuing to ponder over his Second Law.

Now, he had begun to see results.

Lei Jun sat cross-legged indoors without standing up.

He stretched his palm forward, facing upward, fingers spread.

Threads of lightning and Yuan Magnetism swirled above his hand.

With the shaft removed, only a metal arrowhead remained, floating above Lei Jun's fingertips.

The arrowhead pointed forward but did not fly out.

Lei Jun looked ahead, as if aiming and also calculating.

After a long while, he lowered his hand.

The arrowhead fell to the ground in response.

Lei Jun didn't pick up the metal arrowhead but looked down at it intently.

After a moment, he nodded slightly, waved his hand, and the arrowhead returned to his palm.

But then he casually set it aside.

His Second Law was taking shape more and more.

However, his concept was not limited to lethality.

I wonder if there could be more variations and applications.

Should I choose the seemingly non-combat Thousand-Mile Sound Transmission Talisman for my Third Law if I ever cultivate to the Sixth Layer of Heaven Dao Seal Realm?

Then I would improve this Spirit Talisman.

I've always believed this talisman has deeper potential to be unearthed.

「...」

Despite the heated battles in Poyang Lake, the Ancestral Courtyard of the Celestial Master Mansion remained relatively calm, allowing Lei Jun to cultivate in peace.

In contrast, there were stronger undercurrents in the South.

Prince Wu had just seen off palace attendants and visitors.

His cousin did not rebuke him harshly but rather inquired with concern if her cousin's health had been well lately.

Prince Wu's physical health was excellent.

It was his heart that was ill.

Standing in the courtyard with his hands behind his back, he looked up at the sky.

After a good while, Prince Wu finally spoke, "Have you found out where the leak came from?"

The person behind him responded, "The other party is very cautious, and we are still unable to determine the source of the information."

Prince Wu did not get angry but instead commanded, "Keep looking."

"This subordinate obeys."

After responding, the person spoke softly, "Your Highness, is it possible that General Sheng of the Suppressing Demon Guards let something slip unintentionally?"

Prince Wu gazed at the sky, saying nothing for a long time.

「...」

Lei Jun focused on his cultivation.

Until the stars in the book gathered once more, bringing four people together to agree to exchange information again.

With the groundwork laid and the familiarity from the last meeting, everyone was still deeply wary, with an atmosphere both relaxed on the outside and tense on the inside, but the exchanges were more amicable and smooth.

Last time, when they first met, everyone shared their information.

This time, they were trading.

"I have a piece of information about the Western Region Vajra Temple. Is anyone interested?" YueYao spoke up first.

Mu Yao asked, "What kind of information do you want in return?"

YueYao replied, "I want information on the Five Clans and Seven Families. Any family will do. Who can provide it?"

Riyao said, "I have information on two families, but I'm not interested in the Western Region Vajra Temple."

Mu Yao said, "As for the Five Clans and Seven Families, I have some information on the Longyou Xiao Clan."

YueYao responded, "I think we can discuss this later."

Good grief, this is like matchmaking... Lei Jun complained inwardly.

Nevertheless, he maintained his composure and said, "I have two pieces of news here: one concerning another Spiritual Soul treasure, the other about the White Lotus Sect. The former still has some time before unfolding, while the latter is occurring soon. Who's interested?"

YueYao and Mu Yao remained silent.

Riyao then spoke up, "What kind of information do you want?"

Lei Jun replied, "I want information on the Jinzhou Ye Clan."

"Alright."

Riyao answered succinctly, "I want information on that Spiritual Soul treasure."

Upon hearing this, Lei Jun began to speculate.

They're asking for more? Even with the Soul Dispersion Essence, they're still seeking other Spiritual Soul-related treasures. What are they planning? And how much of this request is genuine?

As for not wanting information on the White Lotus Sect, is it because this person also knows that the White Lotus Sect's Sect Master Designate is preparing to enter the world? Or do they simply not care about that Buddhist Sect's renegades?

Well, regardless, I've successfully found a match on my end too... Lei Jun quickly shook his head, stopping his wild speculations.

The four of them arranged times for their individual exchanges.

Next, the four stars in the cosmic void dimmed simultaneously, shrouded and obscured by streams of air.

When the agreed time came, they each had a private chat one after another.

Lei Jun informed the other party to search near Daolang Mountain downstream of Songjiang in the Northern Border, but said the treasure had yet to mature and would require some waiting.

Riyao accepted this explanation, and when Lei Jun asked about the Jinzhou Ye Clan, the other party calmly replied, "The old fox of the Jinzhou Ye Clan has long since recovered from his injuries, and lately, he has had frequent dealings with Prince Zhao."

If this information is true, it's a very high-level secret.

Although he wasn't privy to the specifics of YueYao and Mu Yao's conversations, he observed that both appeared quite satisfied with the outcome afterwards.

So, one cares about the Five Clans and Seven Families.

And the other is concerned with the Western Region Vajra Temple.

Is it a disguise, or do they each have their own hidden agendas?

Lei Jun didn't dwell on others and focused on his own matters.

If the Jinzhou Ye Clan really is in close contact with old Prince Zhao, then the current situation of the Great Tang Imperial Dynasty has just become even more delicate.

His mind withdrew from the starry space in the book, and Lei Jun went to see his master, Yuan Mobai.

The master and disciple conversed briefly.

Yuan Mobai assessed that Xu Yuanzhen was close to completing her great task.

Lei Jun was not in a hurry, patiently waiting.

It was someone else who reacted quite strongly upon hearing about Xu Yuanzhen's imminent finish.

"The eldest senior sister never boasts without merit."

Wang Guiyuan earnestly said, "Since she said she would go to the Lin Clan in Jiangzhou to regain lost ground, then it definitely won't be a trivial maneuver."

Lei Jun nodded, "That makes sense."

Wang Guiyuan continued, "If it really causes a big stir, then the Lin Clan in Jiangzhou can't possibly remain as quiet as they are now in Poyang Lake—all thunder but no rain. By then, our sect and the Lin Clan in Jiangzhou will inevitably erupt into a real war again!"

Lei Jun replied, "It's to be expected."

Wang Guiyuan slapped Lei Jun and Chu Kun's shoulders with force, "So, the three of us brothers should enter seclusion together."

Lei Jun: "..."

Chu Kun: "..."

In the end, neither of them joined Wang Guiyuan.

Wang Guiyuan expressed deep regret and had to submit a long-term seclusion report to the mansion alone.

As Yuan Mobai had predicted, Xu Yuanzhen soon finished her refinement and organization at the Altar of Wanfa Sect.

When she emerged from the Altar of Wanfa Sect, she came straight to Lei Jun.

After hearing the circumstances from Lei Jun, Xu Yuanzhen nodded, "I see."

She didn't ask further, nor did she say anything else, and directly entrusted the Sword Scar Strip Stone along with the Radiant Sun Crystal to Yuan Mobai, who rarely left the mountain, "I'm off to Jiangzhou now. I won't worry about these things. Contact Xiaotang to come back and hand everything over to her. Let her be busy with it."

With that, Xu Yuanzhen waved her hand casually and left on her own.

After her departure, no news came back from Jiangzhou or any other place.

It was as if she had never gone to Jiangzhou at all.

Until...

"Big news, senior brother!"

One morning, Chu Kun rushed to Lei Jun, exclaiming, "News has come from outside the mountain... Lin Zhen is dead!"

Lei Jun looked up at him.

Chu Kun nodded vigorously, "It's said that it's Lin Xiaoting's bad luck. He was injured on the frontline of Poyang Lake and retreated to Jiangzhou to recover, but on his way back... it's said that the eldest senior sister..."

Lin Zhen, styled Xiaoting, also known as Guang Lei.

The son of the former Clan Chief of the Jiangzhou Lin Clan, Lin Qun, reputed as the top youth of his generation in Jiangzhou, and a Great Scholar of the Seventh Heavenly Layer.

Even without assuming the position of clan head, he had already become one of the core high-ranking members of the Jiangzhou Lin Clan.

And then, last night, he met his end.