Lei Jun said, "I understand, thank you for the reminder, Senior Brother."

After meeting with Master Yuan Mobai and reporting his situation, Lei Jun then descended the mountain.

*He could not help but wonder if the theme these days was farewells.*

Just as Lei Jun was about to leave the sect, he ran into another familiar face, who was also heading out.

"Luo, Senior Brother," Lei Jun greeted.

Luo Haoran was standing at the mountain gate; seeing Lei Jun, he smiled, "Lei, you're leaving the mountain too?"

Lei Jun nodded slightly, "Setting out for a journey beyond the mountain."

Standing by Luo Haoran was another group of young transmission disciples; Lei Jun nodded to greet them as well.

The group, upon seeing him, all felt a rush of excitement they could not suppress.

Strictly speaking, Lei Jun's age was not much different from these young disciples'.

Some were even close to his own age, peers in every sense.

Lei Jun glanced over, spotting two familiar faces—the very ones who, ten years ago, had joined him to attend the transmission ceremony as true disciples of the Celestial Master Mansion.

This small handful, upon seeing Lei Jun, felt even more complex emotions within.

Most of the others, though, looked upon Lei Jun with eyes full of admiration and longing.

For them, Master Lei had become something of a legend within the mansion.

It was more than just the fact that they had only completed the transmission, while Lei Jun had already received a talisman-bestowed title.

Though their ages were similar, it seemed as though a generation divided them.

Even within the Celestial Master Mansion, where genius cultivators gathered like clouds, Lei Jun was among the rarest and brightest handful.

He was, as they had come to refer to it, a genius among geniuses.

Or, a monster among monsters.

"Luo, Senior Brother, this trip out of the mountain, where are you all heading?" Lei Jun guessed, given it was summer and floods were frequent.

Just as he expected, Luo Haoran replied, "Flooding in the Xinjiang River, the Hall of Steward has sent orders for us to go assist, and we've received the task, so we're going to help."

If it were just up to him, even without orders from the Hall of Steward, he'd have requested to leave and help by the river.

But now, there was a group of fellow disciples joining in.

As a talisman-bestowed Taoist, Luo Haoran would be responsible for leading the team.

"Luo, Senior Brother, take this with you, it might come in handy." Lei Jun swept his gaze across the group behind Luo Haoran, then produced a treasure bead radiating a soft golden light, handing it over.

It was the Water-Averting Golden Pupil, which Lei Jun had obtained at Qingxiao Lake in the Yunxiao Mountain Range.

He and Luo Haoran were both cultivators of the Middle Three Heavens now, able to easily craft top-grade Water-Avoiding Talismans.

Unless faced with truly extreme conditions, Luo Haoran would not need such a treasure for himself.

Still, carrying this would provide an extra measure of security.

Moreover, if Luo Haoran did not need it, he could give it to his fellow transmission disciples.

Since Lei Jun would not be joining the trip to Xinjiang River, he offered this treasure to give his colleagues a helping hand.

Luo Haoran and the others immediately thanked Lei Jun.

They wished each other well and parted, each setting off on their own journey.

Lei Jun sprang upward and landed squarely on the massive shoulder of Gungun, "Let's go, you greedy bear."

Although the Supreme Pure Golden Bamboo remained Gungun's favorite, the bear was fickle and loved novelty.

Hearing that Lei Jun was heading to Red Mountain Manor, it insisted on tagging along, hoping to discover some new delicacies and expand its menu.

Through this period of cultivation, the giant Gungun had not only grown larger than back in Bashu, but also become swifter; it truly had the feel of traveling like the wind and lightning.

With Lei Jun atop its back, man and bear began surmounting mountain and river, making haste for Red Mountain Manor.

Red Mountain Manor, for the moment, looked just as it had before.

Lei Jun gazed upon the heavy clouds overhead, shimmering red above the mountains, nodding repeatedly; *that was exactly his objective here.*

Familiar with the path now, he first dropped by the Tao Palace in the town to pay his respects, then continued on to the secluded manor deep within the mountains.

He paid his respects to the sect elder overseeing the place.

The elder, with a friendly demeanor, nevertheless could not help but show awe and admiration in his eyes as he observed Lei Jun.

The elder knew precisely when Lei Jun had come to condense the Nine Earth Yin Wind Evil.

But after just a few short years, he was already here to refine the Red Dragon Abyss Gang?

This young man was truly extraordinary…

"Jingzhen, Nephew, is also here."

At the end, the elder recalled something and informed Lei Jun.

"So, Senior Sister Zhang," Lei Jun nodded.

With the previous Celestial Master Li Qingfeng deceased and the new master still unconfirmed,

those former direct disciples of previous Celestial Masters remained unaffected in their status.

By tradition, even when masters changed, direct disciples of the prior Celestial Master did not see their treatment downgraded.

And certainly, Li Qingfeng's direct disciples were never ones to be underestimated.

First disciple Xu Yuanzhen and second disciple Li Zhengxuan required no introduction.

The previously delayed Fang Jian, who had only caused the talisman-bestowed ceremony a few years back, had recently achieved the Original Talisman, ascending to the Middle Three Heavens level.

Even aside from his cultivation level, as the direct heir of the Jingxiang Fang Clan, Fang Jian was not someone to be ignored.

Among Li Qingfeng's direct disciples, there was also Zhang Jingzhen.

In terms of cultivation strength, she had reached the Sixth Layer Heaven Dao Seal years earlier.

Among her peers, only Xu Yuanzhen, Li Zhengxuan, and Tang Xiaotang could consistently surpass her.

The likes of Lin Shan, Li Xuan, Li Kong, and Xia Xiushan felt uncertain when facing Zhang Jingzhen.

*In fact, before Lei Jun's surprising rise, she had been by far the most promising talent in and out of the mansion for years.*

Many speculated that the next to reach the Seventh Layer of Heaven Realm within the Celestial Master Mansion would probably be Zhang Jingzhen.

And if pedigree was considered, she was a Commandery Princess of the Great Tang.

This only further fueled speculation about her position and influence within the mansion and beyond.

Not to mention that Shangguan Ning was already a High Merit Elder in the mansion; the Tang Imperial Family's power here had grown considerable…

Zhang Jingzhen was not secluded in meditation, simply residing in Red Mountain Manor to train for now.

Lei Jun visited her in accordance with proper etiquette.

She was, as always, graceful and dignified, just as she had been during their time in Supreme Pure Thunder Mansion Cave Heaven.

From appearances alone, many fellow disciples remarked that Senior Sister Zhang rather resembled a female version of Elder Yuan.

"The Red Dragon Abyss Gang may be Yin in nature, but there's a hidden ferocity to it. You must be cautious, Lei." After exchanging a few words, Zhang Jingzhen offered him a reminder.

Lei Jun said, "Thank you for the advice, Senior Sister. I will be careful."

Zhang Jingzhen nodded and said no more.

She was about to delve deeper into the Red Abyss Cave Heaven to continue her training.

Lei Jun, meanwhile, made his way to the mountaintop to draw down the Heavenly Gang.

*Was it just his imagination? Lei Jun vaguely sensed that during these few years apart, she had changed, however subtly.*

*The change was so elusive that Lei Jun could not be certain.*

*If it were truly significant, others should've noticed by now.*

*He did not know whether this was just his own bias showing.*

*He recalled the day in Supreme Pure Thunder Mansion Cave Heaven, when he'd chosen the Fourth Rank Opportunity—Vermilion Sun Blossom—and passed up a somewhat risky Third-Rank Opportunity.*

*Yet he had no idea what that opportunity would've brought.*

*Was Zhang Jingzhen's faint change somehow connected?*

Lei Jun shook his head, collecting his wandering thoughts.

*Though curious, he simply had no interest in prying into others' secrets.*

He moved forward, focusing solely on his own cultivation.

After harnessing the Azure Dragon Thunder Command Gang, Lei Jun continued to draw the Red Dragon Abyss Gang into his body, refining it.

The Yin Yang Sacred Body and the Central Three Pure Ones Palace harmonized the forces; the Two Ganges of Yin and Yang fused, combined with the Evil of Yin and Yang.

Soon, two dragon-shaped streams of energy, one green and one red, coiled together around his Central Three Pure Ones Palace.

After a period of consolidation and nurturing, Lei Jun at last concluded his training at Red Mountain Manor.

With his tasks complete, he wasted no time lingering, clapping the giant Gungun, and man and bear set off decisively for Dragon Tiger Mountain.

But just a short way into the journey, a sphere of light again flickered in Lei Jun's mind, revealing these words:

[Spiritual Energy rises and falls, ever shifting, fortune and disaster entwined, Heaven and man together bring calamity.]

Soon after, four fortunes appeared:

[Moderately good lot, return to Dragon Tiger Mountain via Remaining Sunlight Gorge, you will gain a Fifth Grade Opportunity; no danger, no future troubles, auspicious.]

[Perfectly neutral lot, return to Dragon Tiger Mountain via Remaining Sunlight Gorge, Cangling River Valley, or other routes outside Tiansong Mountain; nothing gained, nothing lost, average.]

[Moderately unlucky lot, return to Dragon Tiger Mountain via Cangling River Valley, and you will obtain a Fifth Grade Opportunity, but danger lurks everywhere, each step is peril, risking it all, outcome uncertain, inauspicious.]

[The worst lot, return to Dragon Tiger Mountain via Tiansong Mountain, and you may discover a Seventh Grade Opportunity—but fall into utter peril, with no hope of enjoying it, certain death, disaster!]

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