Cultivation: Fortune by Lots

Although the earthquake was minor, it had not caused significant casualties in the mountain village, leaving only the villagers feeling lost and terrified.

Some climbed high to look into the distance. Standing on the mountaintop and looking far away, they could see a range of hills and knolls collapsing. Amid the rising dust, a depression had formed, resembling a valley or a lake.

However, the color of that lake seemed somewhat off.

Under the early rising sunlight, the water in the lake appeared golden-red...

「Lei Jun and the others were closer.」

Upon reaching the surface, they looked back and saw a lake of blood before them. Even though the eruption of the Blood Sea had subsided, a large amount of tainted blood was still accumulating. Around the Blood River, several smaller-scale blood rivers could be vaguely seen extending outwards.

Lei Jun shaded his eyes with his hand, scanning the landscape.

The disciples of the Celestial Master Mansion were mostly situated around the lakeshore and the edges of the blood rivers. Even some disciples of the Blood River Sect who had escaped from the Blood Sea had extremely unsightly expressions on their faces.

In the central blood lake, the level of the bloody water was gradually diminishing.

Near where Lei Jun and his group were, on the surface of the lake, a vortex could be faintly seen constantly spinning, drawing the surrounding bloody waters into it.

Lei Jun suddenly understood.

The eruption of the Blood Sea had backflowed everywhere, but the ferocious Blood Qi was still mostly stored within the underground palace.

Now, once the Eight Desolates Blood Cavity was broken, the whole thing had collapsed...

An extremely important node, yet exceedingly fragile—all it took was a light touch to trigger it.

So, who was at the location of the Eight Desolates Blood Cavity at that time?

Lei Jun looked more closely and discovered that there was indeed a person caught within the spinning vortex of the blood lake.

But it was not the Fang Siblings, Fang Lu and Fang Mingyuan.

It was Fang Jian.

Was it when the Eight Desolates Blood Cavity erupted, and he discovered the Fang Siblings had fallen in, that Fang Jian also got swept into it during the rescue attempt? Lei Jun speculated.

Based on the conversation between the Fang Siblings, it seemed Fang Jian wasn't involved in the related affairs.

Seeing his fellow sect brothers and sisters surprised and somewhat bewildered, Lei Jun shook his head slightly and once again stepped forward before anyone else.

Under the effect of the Wind Riding Talisman's Spiritual Power, he flew into the air above the vortex to rescue Fang Jian.

His other sect brothers and sisters, having just experienced a shocking upheaval, were still somewhat stunned, uncertain of the true situation and filled with doubts. However, most of them soon came back to their senses. They were only a step slower than Lei Jun, making it look as though they were following his lead.

Members of the Fang Clan who had survived also hurried forward to help.

Everyone worked together haphazardly to first pull Fang Jian to safety.

This disciple, personally taught by the Celestial Master, no longer bore his graceful demeanor; he was now exceptionally ragged.

"Thank you, everyone," Fang Jian's voice was weak. He looked at Lei Jun, then at the others, and weakly expressed his gratitude.

The Fang Clan disciples who had come to assist Dragon Tiger Mountain mostly knew Fang Jian, and now they offered their words of comfort.

Among them, some, when looking at Lei Jun, also showed gratitude. "I remember this is… Master Lei from Elder Yuan's lineage? Thank you for your timely assistance!"

Lei Jun smiled. "Everyone is too polite. Brother Fang is my fellow sect brother; how could my brothers and I stand idly by?"

Another member of the Fang Clan glanced around, counting people. "Eh? Where are Sister Sixteen and Mingyuan?"

Fang Jian sighed deeply. "Sixteen and Mingyuan… I couldn't save them!"

"What?!"

Everyone was shocked.

Those who realized what was happening turned back to look at the blood lake.

There, the vortex was getting smaller and smaller, gradually disappearing.

"Sister Sixteen and Mingyuan were trapped in the blood cavity. Despite my best efforts to save them, my Cultivation was insufficient…" Fang Jian's expression was somber.

Lei Jun leaned back slightly. "No one wanted this to happen, Brother Fang. You shouldn't blame yourself too much."

Fang Jian shook his head. "Lei, thank you for comforting me, but I have let down my Third Aunt and Third Uncle!"

Lei Jun turned towards the blood lake and recited the Scripture of Resurrection.

Seeing this, Fang Jian forced himself to stand up and joined Lei Jun by his side.

Most of the True Inheritance disciples of the Celestial Master Mansion followed suit.

The Fang Clan disciples also joined in the silent homage.

However, their gazes towards Master Lei held a newfound warmth.

Although Confucianism and Taoism are different paths, this Master Lei is truly a good person...

Unfortunately, the moment of silence was soon interrupted.

「The early morning sunrise was suddenly dyed red.」

A blood-red cloud approached from the horizon, its momentum frightening.

Everyone was uncertain, wondering if it was the Blood River Sect master who had set up the Blood Sea returning for vengeance.

However, the blood cloud swiftly passed over the blood lake and flew towards the other side of the sky.

From its manner, it seemed to be fleeing instead.

「In the next moment, from the direction the blood cloud had come, a rainbow suddenly streaked across the sky.」

The rainbow cut through the sky, catching up with the fleeing blood cloud and hitting its mark!

The blood cloud immediately exploded.

In mid-air, it looked as though a large clump of blood rain had burst forth.

But the raindrops burned. Before they could reach the ground, most of them were completely destroyed in mid-air.

Only a few raindrops managed to regroup at lower altitudes, forming a smaller blood cloud, which, without pause, continued to flee into the distance.

「Meanwhile, on the other side of the sky, a Cloud Car was traveling through the air.」

A woman in hunting attire stood on the roof of the car, holding a longbow. Her clothes flapped in the wind, and she seemed to shine in the morning sun.

"Little Aunt?" Fang Jian was somewhat surprised.

Lei Jun looked carefully and recognized the visitor as that renowned young talent of the Chu Clan.

Although her current image didn't quite match the impression many people had of such a talent.

"Chong Jian?"

Chu Yu halted. The Cloud Car descended from the sky, and she addressed Fang Jian by his Taoist name, Chong Jian, rather than his courtesy name. "So disheveled? Did you just fall into that blood lake?"

The other Fang Clan disciples also came forward with Fang Jian to greet Chu Yu, most maintaining the demeanor of juniors.

Lei Jun and the other Heavenly Master Mansion Disciples were somewhat more at ease.