Given the current situation, Lei Jun would probably have to make this long journey to the Northern Border outside the desert on his own.

Among his reliable friends, Senior Sister Xu Yuanzhen's whereabouts were always a mystery.

The most recent news he had heard about her, she had been in the Southern Wildernes, which was clear on the other side from the Northern Border...

His own master, Master Yuan Mobai, was still on Dragon Tiger Mountain.

But for one, Yuan Mobai oversaw the Ancestral Altar of Wanfa Sect, and it wouldn't be easy for him to leave the mountain.

Secondly, even if he wasn't overseeing the Ancestral Altar, he still couldn't get away right now all the same.

There were six high-level elders in the High Merit Pavilion, plus Tang Xiaotang, who attended lectures and studied there, making it six plus one, or seven people.

But Xu Yuanzhen was hardly ever present, and Shangguan Ning would often travel between the Capital and Dragon Tiger Mountain.

If Yuan Mobai also left the mountain, there would be even fewer people left.

Word had it that there was already a proposal to end Elder Yao Yuan's closed-door reflection, and that Elder Yao Yuan would soon make a comeback and enter the High Merit Pavilion.

But even so, Yuan Mobai would still be busy with affairs and couldn't easily leave Dragon Tiger Mountain.

As for Tang Xiaotang, she was still drifting somewhere over the eastern sea...

Lei Jun didn't know the specifics about his fellow disciple Wang Guiyuan's background or cultivation strength, but he could guess with his knees that there was no way Wang would risk running off to the Northern Border outside the desert, where demon qi filled the sky.

Just as Lei Jun was wondering if he should set off this summer, a light sphere suddenly flashed in his mind, and then words began to appear:

[The old man loses his horse, who knows if it won't turn out to be a blessing, think thrice before you act, seek fortune and avoid disaster.]

Hmm?

*He was getting a lot right now...* Lei Jun felt a faint stirring in his heart.

This time, only two lots flew out from the light sphere.

Lei Jun carefully read them:

[Moderately good lot, stay within the sect, quietly cultivate, when the time comes, there is a chance to obtain one fifth grade opportunity, no risk, no aftermath, auspicious.]

[Moderately unlucky lot, take a trip to the icy lake outside the Northern Border desert, there is a chance to obtain one fifth grade opportunity, but face immense danger, life and death uncertain, ominous.]

These two lots each represented a fifth grade opportunity.

But the fates they pointed to were utterly different.

The moderately good lot carried no risk, no aftermath, and there was a chance for a fifth grade opportunity.

The moderately unlucky lot also offered a chance for a fifth grade opportunity, but it meant immense danger and uncertain life and death.

Given Lei Jun's current cultivation strength and the Breathing Soil Banner he carried, the level of danger that could make his survival uncertain was easy to imagine.

And yet, this moderately unlucky lot happened to point right at the icy lake outside the Northern Border desert.

Lei Jun's brow furrowed slightly, but quickly relaxed again.

He chose the moderately good lot.

Although it meant he might miss out on the True Yin Spiritual Object he needed, it was a bit of a pity.

But he didn't need to take that big of a risk for it.

Even at worst, if the cold Yin lake outside the Northern Border really did have a True Yin Spiritual Object to match the Vermilion Sun Blossom, all he stood to lose was a chance to upgrade his Root Bone to Sacred Body.

And that would only be the case if the True Yin Spiritual Object truly was unique and irreplaceable.

Even if that turned out to be true, Lei Jun could still look for other ways to strengthen his Root Bone—at worst, he'd just have to start over from scratch.

Right now, his cultivation was still on track. *Sure, if a man has no long-term worries he'll soon face immediate ones—but as long as he put his feet firmly on the ground and kept moving forward earnestly, his outlook was still fairly bright.*

Enhancing his Root Bone was just a bonus. *It would be great to have, but it was not worth risking everything for.*

Besides, the True Yin Spiritual Object in the cold Yin lake outside the Northern Border merely had a possibility of being usable for him; it wasn't certain yet.

Judging by the grade of the fortuitous encounters tied to treasures like the Shadow Rabbit Vine, Heartburn Chi, Pure Spirit Rock, and Divine Eye Mirror Stone, Lei Jun even suspected that the treasure matching the Vermilion Sun Blossom ought to be a fourth rank opportunity, not a fifth grade one.

Of course, this assumption might well be wrong.

But if it meant facing risks where life and death were up in the air, he might be wiped off the board completely.

The danger was utterly out of proportion with the reward.

*Maybe later, I could go check out the Southern Shu Bamboo Sea...* Lei Jun thought to himself.

For now, the cold Yin lake outside the Northern Border desert went to the very bottom of his priority list.

If the Southern Shu Bamboo Sea didn't work out, he could reconsider.

As time went on and his own strength increased, maybe it would gradually become less dangerous.

If he missed out because of this, then that was fate—best let the past be the past.

Having made his decision, Lei Jun felt no hesitation anymore, *no longer torn about the moderately unlucky lot or the fifth grade opportunity it mentioned.*

He focused his attention on the moderately good lot.

Lei Jun noticed the original wording of the lot was "when the time comes, there is a chance to obtain one fifth grade opportunity."

From this angle, it seemed that even this fifth grade opportunity wasn't one hundred percent guaranteed.

*Maybe it would depend on how he responded when the chance arrived?*

Although he didn't yet know what kind of opportunity it would be, Lei Jun felt somewhat interested.

Since the lot told him to wait for the right moment, he calmed his heart and focused on his cultivation again.

As Lei Jun sat cross-legged in meditation, above his head, in addition to the huge Original Talisman that was always floating there, a new brilliance began gradually weaving another figure in the air as time passed.

That day, after Lei Jun finished his breathing practice, put away the Pure Spirit Rock and the other treasures, he pushed open the door and stepped out of his room.

In his own courtyard, he went through a few rounds of boxing to stir up his blood and qi.

As he was practicing, someone suddenly arrived outside the residence,

"Lei!"

Lei Jun kept his fistwork going, saying casually at the same time, "Is that you, Chu? Come on in."

It was Chu Kun.

The two had long been on familiar terms, no need for formalities between brothers.

Chu Kun walked into the courtyard, brewed himself some tea, and waited quietly for Lei Jun to finish his boxing.

When Lei Jun finished a round, he gathered himself, let out a long breath, then came over and sat down at the table, asking casually, "Shouldn't you be listening to Master right now?"

Chu Kun offered tea, chatting with Lei Jun as they drank, "They said there's something important at the High Merit Pavilion, Master's busy, so my lessons are on hold for a few days—he'll make them up later."

Lei Jun nodded, "You can work it through yourself for now. If you have questions, feel free to ask me. If I can answer, I will. If not, wait and ask Master once he's free."

Just a few days ago, Wang Guiyuan had gone into seclusion.

So if Chu Kun had any issues now, other than asking his master Yuan Mobai, it was Second Senior Brother Lei Jun he'd seek out.

"It's nothing urgent about the Tao or anything,"

Chu Kun said, "Actually, I came over today to ask you for a favor—could you help me draw a top-grade Wind Riding Talisman?"

Lei Jun looked at him, "You planning to leave the mountain for a bit?"

Chu Kun answered, "Not going far, otherwise if Master comes back to make up my lessons and I'm not on the mountain, how could that work?"

"I'm just heading down with some other brothers for a few days, I'll be back soon.

But, you know, better safe than sorry, so I'm thick-skinned enough to ask you for a top-grade Wind Riding Talisman."

Chu Kun had formally completed the transcension ritual and entered the mansion, learned the Celestial Master's Taoist Laws and Talisman Scripture, and had successfully reached Foundation Establishment, so he could make Wind Riding Talismans himself.

But at this point, he could only make lower-grade Wind Riding Talismans.

And they weren't even Life-bound Talismans for him.

Just like Wang Guiyuan and Lei Jun, Chu Kun's first Life-bound Art was also the Divine Strike Talisman.

Technically, he could go through his own Chu Family and purchase a top-grade Basic Spirit Talisman from possible Heirs of the Heavenly Master Mansion trading externally.

But obviously, he didn't need to go through all that roundabout trouble.

"Yeah, looking out for your own safety is always the right call."

Lei Jun nodded and willingly agreed to his junior's request.

He had already achieved the Four-layered Heaven Yuan Talisman Realm and didn't need to hold special ceremonies—he could casually wave out a top-grade Basic Spirit Talisman.

Chu Kun received the Wind Riding Talisman, thanked Lei Jun, the two brothers chatted a bit more, then he said his goodbyes and left.

Lei Jun watched him disappear outside the courtyard and withdrew his gaze.

But then he suddenly paused, his eyes turning once more to the outside as he raised his brows,

"...Am I being too paranoid, or did I figure this out too late?"

When Chu Kun left Lei Jun, he didn't go down the mountain right away.

Instead, he returned first to his own residence.

That night.

In the dead of night, when all was silent.

Chu Kun felt full of energy, checking over himself inside and out.

Satisfied he was ready, he raised his hand and lightly tapped his own brow with his index finger.

In the very next moment, with no warning, he vanished from the house.

This time, Chu Kun stayed gone a long while.

Time continued to pass relentlessly.

The next morning, as dawn approached and the sky was beginning to brighten,

Suddenly, Chu Kun's figure reappeared in his room.

He looked exhausted and disheveled, but at least there were no injuries.

Just after reemerging, Chu Kun sat down with a tired face, "Damn, that really was a risky one."

But the result was great.

He got everything he wanted—and even got some extra on top.

He owed it all to Lei's top-grade Wind Riding Talisman.

Otherwise, he'd have had to find some other way, or maybe just given up, since the time frame was so tight.

Come to think of it, he couldn't say whether it was his good luck, or Lei's good luck.

The biggest extra this time was really way too early for him to use, but it would be just right for Lei—guess good people get good rewards too.

Tit for tat, that's how people ought to be... Chu Kun shook himself awake and sat up straight.

Just a pity there hadn't been enough time, or he could have relaxed and enjoyed himself a bit over there.

Now he had to rush back in a hurry, without even enough time to catch up on sleep.

Although he was already at Foundation Establishment and his body was far beyond an ordinary person's, Chu Kun was nonetheless worn out, yawning nonstop.

Not only had his mana been severely depleted, but his energy, qi, and spirit were all hugely worn down too.

But the young Taoist forced himself awake, washed up, changed clothes, gulped a few pills, nursed his mana, cleared his mind, and then left his own courtyard.

He still had to meet up with some fellow brothers and head down the mountain together.

"Chu, you don't look so good—were you sneaking around up all night?" one of the brothers teased him without thinking much of it.

Chu Kun casually replied, "Ran into a bottleneck in cultivation, don't bring it up."

He didn't really need to, but since he needed to go down the mountain, he had to cover up his real activities from the previous night, or else some things would be hard to explain.

There was nothing special about the trip down; after a short time, everyone returned to the mountain.

After coming back, Chu Kun took some time to recover thoroughly.

Once his vitality was restored and he was back to his usual state, he made another visit to Lei Jun.

"Bro, I picked up a treasure by accident on my trip down the mountain—take a look," Chu Kun entered, saying excitedly.

Lei Jun looked up and gave him a careful look, "Oh?"

Chu Kun nodded eagerly, took out a bundle, and spread it open for Lei Jun to see.

At once, rays of multicolored light flashed, as if filling the whole house and courtyard.

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