Cultivation: Fortune by Lots

Dragon Tiger Mountain's lineage practiced alchemy by harmonizing water and fire, reflecting the union of yin and yang, the merging of the dragon and the tiger.

But this Thunderheart Furnace followed the path of thunder and lightning, rarely seen in the history of Dragon Tiger Mountain.

Lei Jun remembered that only a master from many years ago, long dead, had dabbled in such a method.

Presumably, this pill furnace was the relic that the old master left behind and buried years ago.

Now, because the Supreme Pure Thunder Mansion Cave Heaven was affected by outside forces and changed, this pill furnace also had the chance to reappear.

Of course, it was a fleeting moment.

To encounter it was a rare stroke of fate.

If no one crossed paths with it, the magic artifact would simply remain buried.

*Lei Jun thought of the Weiji Bowl he acquired back in the Great Elixir Room, and for a moment was filled with emotion.*

He composed himself, lit incense, and offered prayers at the place where the Thunderheart Furnace had emerged.

Later, Lei Jun did not rush to carefully examine the Thunderheart Furnace, instead he packed up the magic artifact and left, planning to wait until he exited the Supreme Pure Thunder Mansion Cave Heaven before doing so.

For now, he headed toward the Holy Wave Pond.

Just now, at midnight, when the Thunderheart Furnace emerged at Solitary Goose Peak, Lei Jun had sensed a strange disturbance at the Holy Wave Pond as well.

Unlike before, when it was his own Gui Water Yin Thunder that caused trouble, this time it was a change arising within the Holy Wave Pond itself.

He figured it was also affected by Li Song's healing, the cave heaven shifting, the Holy Wave Pond creating a fifth-grade opportunity.

By the time Lei Jun arrived, other Celestial Master Mansion true disciples had already come in response to the commotion.

However, the surface of the Holy Wave Pond had already grown calm again.

The water was smooth as a mirror, not even the faintest ripple.

There sat Luo Haoran, cross-legged on the surface, one hand forming a spell gesture at his chest, the other holding a round pearl, the bead gleaming with light.

Seeing Luo Haoran unharmed, Lei Jun finally let go of the last bit of worry he had been carrying.

*The same event could bring completely different results for different people.*

Good thing, this moderately good lot, which for Lei Jun was risk-free, hadn't trapped Luo Haoran either.

"This..." Luo Haoran had just left the Holy Wave Pond, still looking a bit stunned.

He had only come because he was drawn by the disturbance in the Holy Wave Pond, instinctively seeking to calm the waters, having no idea there would be such a chance awaiting him.

However, he truly liked this spiritual object that calmed the waves.

The others saw it, clicking their tongues in amazement.

If anyone felt complicated about the situation, it was Zhang Jingzhen, who arrived a little later.

She had tried once again to investigate the Xianming Spring, only to fail again.

At that moment, Zhang Jingzhen stared blankly at Luo Haoran and the treasure bead, feeling helplessly amused.

That was exactly the item she needed for her Xianming Spring exploration!

*How could she not feel fate was playing tricks on her when they missed each other by such a close margin?*

*A whirlwind of emotions churned within Zhang Jingzhen, but outwardly she appeared calm, joining the others in congratulating Luo Haoran.*

The good news was, Luo Haoran was easygoing and always willing to help.

If she were to ask him to lend her the treasure bead for a while, he most likely wouldn't refuse.

*But then it would be hard for Zhang Jingzhen to keep her business completely secret.*

*Missing the moment really was a shame... Zhang Jingzhen sighed inwardly.*

Lei Jun acted as if he had only just heard about the matter, joining everyone in congratulating Luo Haoran.

Later, Luo Haoran spoke quietly to him in private, "Still, I wonder why this treasure suddenly appeared in the Holy Wave Pond—I've never heard of any other fellow disciples encountering one before."

Lei Jun answered without change of expression, "Supreme Pure Thunder Mansion Cave Heaven is deeply linked to our Sect's Ancestral Courtyard, intertwined and mutually influencing one another, so some changes are actually normal. The wonders of heaven and earth encompass all, and transformations are endless."

He took the treasure bead from Luo Haoran's hands.

Suddenly, as if guided by fate, an answer appeared in his mind,

[Calming Pearl]

*Looks like this was the second moderately good lot mentioned, the fifth-grade opportunity found here at the Holy Wave Pond... Lei Jun thought.*

He returned the Calming Pearl to Luo Haoran, smiling as he asked, "This treasure must suit you perfectly, doesn't it, Brother Luo?"

Luo Haoran grinned in reply, "It really does."

Unlike the Water-Averting Golden Pupil, which was more for self-defense and had limited reach, the Calming Pearl allowed the user to actively affect vast areas of water.

"Brother Luo, you have always cared for the world, and I've always admired that."

Lei Jun said, "Still, sharpening the axe won't delay chopping wood—don't neglect your own cultivation. I remember you mentioning your ambition: if you achieve Upper Three Heavens cultivation, most of the world's water disasters could be quelled."

"Lei, you are right," Luo Haoran laughed, "although, your tone just now sounded like my own master."

Lei Jun replied, "Time flies, the years rush us all towards old age..."

Luo Haoran, older than Lei Jun, quickly waved it off, "Stop, I shouldn't have brought that up with you."

After chatting for a while, the two stopped joking around and sat together in the Immortal Bamboo Forest, each warming and nurturing their own energy, meditating and focusing their spirit.

As the scheduled time drew near, everyone left Supreme Pure Thunder Mansion Cave Heaven together.

Unlike last time, the High Merit Elder waiting at the summit hadn't changed, it was still Yao Yuan.

Truth was, the High Merit Pavilion at Dragon Tiger Mountain was even busier now.

Xu Yuanzhen, Tang Xiaotang, Li Zhengxuan, and Li Hongyu were all absent from the mountain.

Li Song and Shangguan Ning were both recovering from injuries.

Everything had fallen almost entirely on Yuan Mobai, Li Ziyang, and Yao Yuan's shoulders.

After Yao Yuan escorted Lei Jun, Zhang Jingzhen, Luo Haoran, and the others out, he immediately had to return to the High Merit Pavilion.

Before leaving, Lei Jun and the others reported to him the events that had taken place inside Cave Heaven at both dusk and midnight.

"Third Uncle has had some ups and downs while healing, probably related to all this."

Yao Yuan replied, "At least, inside and outside of Cave Heaven, there are no major problems."

Hearing this, everyone joined together in prayer for Uncle Master Li Song.

*Yeah, the old man truly had it rough... Lei Jun remained calm.*

Once the crowd dispersed, he quietly returned to his own residence.

Only then did he take the time to gradually study the newly acquired Thunderheart Furnace.

There were still a few things he didn't quite understand; he planned to consult his master after he returned from the High Merit Pavilion.

However, that very night, word came from the Celestial Book side.

The four had agreed to meet again.

Riyao spoke first, "I still have the same question as before, does anyone know the recent movements or whereabouts of the Blood River Sect Leader, Wei Ancheng?"

YueYao said, "There are rumors Blood River Sect members have appeared south of the Grand River, seemingly entangled with Celestial Master Mansion of Dragon Tiger Mountain and the Jiangzhou Lin Clan, but as for Wei Ancheng himself, there's no news circulating."

Lei Jun and Mu Yao both gave the same response.

Riyao then fell silent again.

Lei Jun glanced at the illusory sky before him, then said, "I possess a partial Buddhist sect pill recipe. Anyone interested can contact me now or in private."