But according to etiquette, after chatting with Zhang Yuan and the others for a few more moments, he took his leave and went to visit Uncle Zuo Li.

After watching Lei Jun's figure disappear respectfully, the group of Transcension Disciples cheered, "Lei is really easygoing!"

Everyone envied Zhang Yuan for being able to talk to Lei Jun directly.

Generally speaking, being able to pass the Transcension Ritual and officially become a True Inheritance of the Celestial Master Mansion meant you were no ordinary person outside Dragon Tiger Mountain.

But after all, this was the Celestial Master Mansion of Dragon Tiger Mountain—what it lacked least was talent.

Even among the talented, there were still differences.

The rituals of Transcension and Talisman-bestowal, they were significant thresholds.

And even among Talisman-instructed Disciples, there could be huge disparities from person to person.

If not, then last year's new batch at the Talisman-bestowed Ceremony wouldn't have drawn so much attention just because a bunch of "seed candidates" all failed.

As for Lei Jun—he was the only seed candidate to pass the Talisman-bestowal last year.

In recent years, his reputation skyrocketed, drawing attention both inside and outside the mansion.

Most people assumed that as long as he didn't have some massive accident, young Taoist Lei would definitely become another pillar of the Celestial Master Mansion in the future.

Everyone in the sect was generally happy to build a friendly relationship early with this rising star.

A strange look flashed across Zhang Yuan's face, however.

He quickly returned to normal and laughed it off, "Lei has always been like this—friendly, whether back then or now."

Zhang Yuan enjoyed being surrounded by envy.

But whenever he thought back, *he always felt a bit uneasy inside.*

*There was really one reason: some less-than-pleasant memories kept attacking him.*

Strictly speaking, *he didn't have anything against Lei Jun personally.*

The guy was outstanding, easygoing, always climbing higher but never arrogant or overbearing.

Lei Jun might not always make people feel as warmly inviting as his master, Yuan Mobai, but he was mostly a pleasure to be around—comfortable and relaxed.

The problem was…

*Every time Zhang Yuan tried to get closer to this Lei, it was the start of a nightmare.*

Back in the Tao Boy Court, it was fine—not much real disaster at least.

The time Elder Du's Altar exploded also had nothing to do with Lei Jun.

But three years ago, just as Zhang Yuan got through the Transcension Ceremony and joined the mansion, there was a competition between the Celestial Master Mansion and disciples from Pure Yang Palace at Zhongnan Mountain.

Elder Yuan Mobai was making alchemy, and ordered Lei Jun to get a Cauldron and medicinal herbs from the Great Elixir Room and the Medicinal Garden.

Lei Jun went to the Elixir Room, and Zhang Yuan, wanting to leave a good impression on both Yuan Mobai and Lei Jun, took it upon himself to help and went to the Medicinal Garden instead.

And then, he ran straight into Fang Mingyuan and Li Ying strolling together—and got badly injured by Fang Mingyuan.

Zhang Yuan could swear to the ancestors.

When Fang Mingyuan attacked, *he saw a look in the guy's eyes—like he meant to silence him for good.*

It was so sudden, even Li Ying didn't react in time.

Luckily, Luo Haoran, who was a higher-level cultivator, just happened to pass by and intervened.

Otherwise, *Zhang Yuan really felt he wouldn't have made it out alive.*

Thankfully, Fang Mingyuan got injured by Luo Haoran as well.

Later on, word was he died in the Blood River Palace, which made Zhang Yuan feel a bit vindicated.

But that heavy injury had Zhang Yuan on bed rest for a long while.

Now, three years later, Zhang Yuan had managed to reach Foundation Establishment, though he hadn't yet broken into the mid-stage.

Recovering from that old injury was one big reason for the delay.

This, of course, wasn't Lei Jun's fault.

*Still, sometimes Zhang Yuan couldn't help but wonder if he just had especially shit luck—was disaster following him?*

*Or maybe fate was just this inscrutable, and he should avoid Lei to stay out of trouble?*

*Zhang Yuan found it both funny and exasperating—at the same time, he honestly felt kind of lost.*

......

"The Nine Earth Yin Wind Evil is of excellent quality, but it's also extremely fierce. Although Red Mountain Manor has managed this place for years, it's never been as stable as our main residence at Dragon Tiger Mountain, so you really need to stay alert out here, nephew Lei."

Elder Zuo Li smiled at Lei Jun, naked appreciation in his eyes.

Still, there was a tinge of sighing there.

Because compared to a prodigy like Lei Jun, Elder Zuo just wasn't so dazzling.

He'd already passed one hundred years old, and his cultivation was at the Fifth Layer Heaven Tao Palace Realm.

The golden window for advancement had long since closed; now he'd entered a plateau, and though it wasn't impossible to improve, breaking into the Sixth Heavenly Realm before two hundred would be the best outcome.

Reaching the Upper Three Heavens was basically a pipe dream now.

*Sometimes, deep down, Zuo Li honestly envied the chosen ones like Lei Jun.*

But seeing rising talents continually emerge in the Celestial Master Mansion, *he still felt pleased on a personal level.*

"Thank you for the advice, Uncle Zuo," Lei Jun said as he took his leave from Zuo Li, then turned to the relatively cold Li Yucheng, "Li, I won't disturb you any further."

Li Yucheng nodded back, "Safe travels, Lei."

Once he left Zuo Li and Li Yucheng, Lei Jun went straight to the heart of Red Mountain Manor: Red Abyss Cave Heaven.

Red Abyss Cave Heaven was deep in the mountain's belly, and after years of effort from the Celestial Master Mansion, the portal at the entrance had been made very stable.

Entering, Lei Jun was engulfed in a field of red.

Unlike the blazing heat of Xuanyang Cave Heaven, however, the Red Abyss gave him a faint, chilly sensation.

The Evil and Gang Qi here were both high-quality forms of Spiritual Energy, but not easy to refine—and dangerous for people, too.

Celestial Master Mansion Disciples entering Red Abyss Cave Heaven had to be careful of the evil energy inside.

But right now, Lei Jun actually took the initiative to draw the evil forth.

With a surge of his mana, a dark wind rose from the abyss.

The Nine Earth Yin Wind Evil.

The wind wasn't fierce, but insidiously, it could corrode the spirit and flesh without a sound, destroying you before you knew it.

By the time you realized it and tried to resist or escape—it was already too late.

You'd be dragged into the abyss by the underworld wind, like a drowning man being pulled down.

Lei Jun sat cross-legged in meditation, calm and composed, quietly practicing breathing skills and visualization.

His Original Talisman unfurled like a great banner, its patterns unfathomable and intricate.

As it fluttered, showing profound mysteries, for a moment the hidden wind revealed itself, turning tangible—like black mist.

Lei Jun didn't linger; he touched it and retreated immediately.

In that fleeting contact, he drew a wisp of the evil into himself.

But that wasn't the end—taking in the evil only meant disaster was just beginning.

Lei Jun had to refine the evil he'd absorbed, making it his own.

The evil became no longer silent but as wild as a tiger released, rampaging in his body.

But Lei Jun's spirit was firm, his Original Talisman radiated brightly, mana streaming continuously until finally, the black tiger was subdued.

The wisp of evil was thus refined.

There was now a faint blackness to his Original Talisman—not dark and vicious anymore, but rather, full of subtlety.

Again and again, Lei Jun repeated the process—absorbing and refining each wisp of the evil.

The more he absorbed, the denser the evil inside, the stronger his mana became through it.

After this journey, Lei Jun would be returning to the mountain, and he'd still need the Nine Earth Yin Wind Evil for future cultivation.

So, this time, he stored extra, keeping it on his Original Talisman for now.

The Shadow Rabbit Vine and Heartburn Chi spiritual power he refined before wasn't being used yet to balance yin and yang—he fused the red and blue into a ring, so it would help him store more of the Yin Wind Evil temporarily.

In cultivation, time always slipped by unnoticed.

Inside the Red Abyss, Lei Jun continued his silent, steady training.

......

The Qingzhou Ye Clan's cloud barge no longer lingered north of the Grand River; instead, it crossed south.

There, following the old pattern, they found another suitable spot and planted a massive new "chess piece."

Once more, the earth vein spiritual qi was violently disturbed!

The shockwaves spread far and wide.

But hidden deep underground, the world above knew little.

The effects rarely manifested on the surface either.

Only the vast mountains and rivers were quietly, silently changing.

Red Mountain Manor and Red Abyss Cave Heaven were still unharmed.

After accumulating for dozens of days, Lei Jun estimated he'd stored enough Nine Earth Yin Wind Evil for his current needs. He thanked the sect elders who oversaw this place, didn't linger, and set out for home.

However…

*"What's this situation now?"* In Lei Jun's mind, a ball of light appeared, the words surfaced again,

[The world's qi gushes forth like springs, fates intertwine and roads diverge, choose your path, fortunes rise and fall.]

Then came four possible lots,

[Moderately good lot: At sunset, pass Guyuan Peak, you'll gain a Fifth Grade Opportunity, all will be calm, no danger or hidden trouble—lucky.]

[Moderately good lot: At sunset, cross Cangling River, you'll gain a Fifth Grade Opportunity. There'll be waves, but no true danger, and no later ill effect—lucky.]

[Perfectly neutral lot: If you go by any route other than Guyuan Peak, Cangling River, or Jiuxi Valley, you'll encounter nothing gained or lost—an even result.]

[Moderately unlucky lot: At sunset, pass through Jiuxi Valley, you'll get a Seventh Grade Opportunity, but great danger lies hidden within and you must take great caution—unlucky.]

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