Cultivation: Fortune by Lots

Chapter 96: 90. Defect from the Celestial Master Mansion_2



The saying went, when immortals fought, mortals suffered the fallout.

It looked like there would be no lack of high-level cultivators heading to Qingtian Peak this time.

This round, two lots had come up perfectly neutral.

One of them was easy to understand, just do nothing, honestly avoid a few key junctures, stay out of the Celestial Master Seal business, and keep your distance.

It would be perfectly reasonable to give up those two traces of the Celestial Master Seal.

Over at Qingtian Peak they were all scrambling for treasures, and, no matter who came out on top, once someone truly got the actual Celestial Master Seal, sooner or later they would probably find clues leading to the two seals in Lei Jun's possession. *At that point, who the hell knew what would happen.*

If you wanted to get out of trouble once and for all, you had to act decisively.

However, the second perfectly neutral lot was pretty baffling to Lei Jun.

What the hell was at the Golden Palace Creek crossing?

That stream, hell, it hadn't even fully left the domain of Dragon Tiger Mountain yet, winding down the mountain—it was one of the main branches of the Supreme Pure River, part of the spiritual network of Dragon Tiger Mountain.

Including Lei Jun, any disciple of the Celestial Master Mansion might pass by there every so often.

Did that place have something to do with the emergence of the Celestial Master Seal too?

Lei Jun studied the prophecy lot carefully, picking up hints of something deeper:

If you went to the Golden Palace Creek crossing, there was a chance to get a Sixth-Rank Opportunity.

But aside from hidden dangers, your magical treasures and cultivation might get exposed.

In other words, you'd have to face some strong opponents or dangerous situations.

But it wasn't mandatory.

Lei Jun guessed that the scene or event at the time might be pretty unpredictable.

If you threw everything you had into it, played every card, you might win a Sixth-Rank Opportunity.

If you showed up and just half-assed it, that was fine, but you could forget about that Sixth-Rank Opportunity.

"Now this is interesting..." Lei Jun was starting to get a little intrigued.

But...

He read the lot for moderately good luck again.

This lot was even weirder.

Don't leave the sect, just squat in the Rear Mountain Ancestral Tomb forbidden ground, and wait for your moment—supposedly you could get a Second-Rank Opportunity?

Back when he'd first crossed over here, the lot he drew at that Qingshan spot when he first encountered the Celestial Master Seal mentioned a Second-Rank Opportunity too.

Considering how the Celestial Master Seal had burst forth again now, Lei Jun couldn't shake the suspicion that this new Second-Rank Opportunity was pointing right at the Celestial Master Seal!

At the very least, it was deeply connected to the seal.

But just hanging around the sect would get you it?

Even if he stayed, the Yong Celestial Master Li Zhengxuan was also basically sticking close—just outside the main gate, keeping watch.

He was a High Merit Elder, plus he wielded the Celestial Master's Sword; even if the Celestial Master Seal snuck back to the sect without a trace, Li Zhengxuan would spot it first.

*Lei Jun found himself getting curious.*

But he didn't hesitate too long; after a little deliberation, he made up his mind.

Lei Jun went to the Hall of Steward to collect his duty for the day.

This time, he picked a job nobody wanted.

Guarding the Rear Mountain Ancestral Tomb forbidden ground on rotation.

For transmission disciples, this gig wasn't stuck with any particular person or group.

Normally, it went by rotation, or you could volunteer, and only if there weren't enough people would an elder assign you directly.

But nearly no disciples ever volunteered for a long-term post here.

The one obvious exception was of course...

"Junior, you finally got enlightened!" Wang Guiyuan beamed, gripping Lei Jun's hand in delight.

Lei Jun said, "Uh, actually not really... Just thought I ought to try every different duty at least once, plus paying respect and keeping watch over our sect ancestors' tombs is something all disciples should do."

Wang Guiyuan grinned with cheer that didn't quite fit the drab environment, "Don't worry, it's strange the first time, but soon you'll grow to love it here—it's safe, after all, with all our founding masters watching over us."

Lei Jun joined him to meet the senior in charge of the place, "Master Xin, disciple Lei Chongyun reporting for duty."

Elder Xin nodded slightly, "Mm, come with me."

You could pretty much guess the nature of Wang Guiyuan's favorite job here.

First off, the place was totally safe.

Never mind that Yellow Sky Sect and the Celestial Master Mansion shared the same ancestors, even if someone tried to retake Dragon Tiger Mountain, they wouldn't bother with this out-of-the-way place.

Even if the Southern Witch Sect stormed the mountain, this cold outpost wouldn't be their first stop.

Of course, that didn't mean the work was easy here.

Quite the opposite, dealing with the ancestors of the sect, Lei Jun, Wang Guiyuan, and the others had to tread with the utmost care.

Plus, as calm and full of spiritual energy as the place was—truly a rare sacred cultivation ground—Lei Jun and Wang Guiyuan weren't allowed to sneak off for idle cultivation practice on the side.

"Chongyun, since you're new, Chonggui, you make sure to show him the ropes," Elder Xin instructed.

Wang Guiyuan immediately agreed, "Yes, Master."

He led Lei Jun around for orientation, while Lei Jun tagged along, quietly memorizing all the things to watch out for.

They were talking when suddenly, both sensed something off.

Lei Jun and Wang Guiyuan turned together to stare out past the mountain.

From over there, they faintly sensed the ground shaking like thunder.

*That was coming from the direction of Qingtian Peak...* Lei Jun thought to himself.

What caught even more attention was that massive thundercloud, hanging near the Ancestral Courtyard of the Sect outside, suddenly flashed with intense purple light.

Thunder roared, and the enormous cloud streaked off in the direction of Qingtian Peak.

Soon, booming sounds echoed from over there, even more earth-shattering, rumbling on and on like the sky was breaking apart.

From afar, Lei Jun watched, feeling like half the sky in that direction was painted purple.

Within the purple, every so often streaks of gold and red flashed through, shining through the purple clouds.

"Eldest brother is bringing the Celestial Master's Sword into battle?" Wang Guiyuan said anxiously, "If that's the case, things are feeling a little thin on defense here at the sect!"

Lei Jun nodded lightly.

Across the way, Elder Xin who was in charge of guarding the ancestral tomb, also frowned slightly, gazing toward Qingtian Peak.

After a while, word from outside reached Elder Xin.

When Elder Xin took the news, he didn't bar the nearby disciples, so Lei Jun, Wang Guiyuan, and the rest got the general idea of what was going on outside.

Elder Ziyang had already rushed to Qingtian Peak, but ran into a completely unexpected opponent.

Master Longjia.

One of the Elders from Vajra Temple, one of the Four Sacred Grounds of Buddhism.

In terms of age, rank, and cultivation, he was on the same level as Li Song of the last generation of Celestial Master Mansion elders.

With an opponent like that, even Elder Ziyang had his hands full.

Of the Four Sacred Buddhist Grounds, Vajra Temple was remote, way out past Longwai in the far west of the Great Tang. It rarely interacted with other sects, was founded the latest, and was shrouded in the most mystery.

It had no deep friendships with the Celestial Master Mansion, but there also hadn't been much bad blood.

No one could've predicted that Vajra Temple's senior elder, Master Longjia, would just show up right now for a showdown with Li Ziyang at Qingtian Peak.

*Lei Jun heard this, thinking hard.*

*No doubt, it was for the Celestial Master Seal too.*

Earlier, he'd sensed that three forces were probing the True One Altar Cave Heaven.

If two of those were Li Zhengxuan and Chu Yu, was the last one Vajra Temple?

Maybe Master Longjia had stumbled on a lead about the Celestial Master Seal, and was making a play at Qingtian Peak while the sect was locked in chaos.

This unexpected powerhouse had ruined Yong Celestial Master Li Zhengxuan's plans.

He'd had to bring the Celestial Master's Sword himself to back up Third Uncle Li Ziyang.

Putting aside Li Song and Yu Qingling keeping each other busy, plus Chu Yu also here chancing his luck, there were now two sides of top-level fighters at Qingtian Peak, tearing the place up.

"Zhengxuan just left the mountain with the Celestial Master's Sword. Some sneaky bastards and demon people might think our sect is open for the taking."

Elder Xin said gravely, "All disciples on the mountain must stay on high alert."

Lei Jun, Wang Guiyuan, and the rest all received the command.

Still, the Rear Mountain Ancestral Tomb forbidden ground remained quiet for now.

Elsewhere around Dragon Tiger Mountain, sure enough, there were infiltrators trying to slip in and fish in troubled waters.

The other Celestial Master Mansion disciples on the mountain all fought back fiercely.

Overall, with Li Hongyu, Yuan Mobai, Yao Yuan, Tang Xiaotang, and others guarding the perimeter, none of the Upper Three Heavens adversaries got a chance to break in.

Even though skirmishes broke out around Dragon Tiger Mountain, things stayed under control.

Until another shocking message arrived:

"A disciple at Golden Palace Creek crossing wounded several of his own and escaped in betrayal!"

Lei Jun and the others heard the news inside the Rear Mountain Ancestral Tomb forbidden area, startled.

There had, in fact, been cases of Celestial Master Mansion heirs swayed by Yellow Sky Sect before.

But after all this time with war raging, pretty much everyone like that had already come out of the woodwork.

And now, another traitor?

"It's a true heir disciple under Elder Yao, named Chen Yi!" The messenger said anxiously, "All our sect's disciples must stay alert. If you see that bastard, catch him or kill him on sight!"

Some present knew Chen Yi too. Hearing this, they were even more shocked.

*But in Lei Jun's mind, the scene of the guy unleashing Bloody River Sword Qi that day surfaced all over again.*


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