CHAPTER 35: 35. THE BEST FORTUNE REAPPEARS! (SEEKING RECOMMENDATION TICKETS ON MONDAY)

After finishing the talisman crafting, Lei Jun paid respects with incense to Heaven, then took down the altar for rituals and let out a long breath,

"When drawing talismans at the advanced stage of Foundation Establishment, the power of a single Basic Spirit Talisman was honestly not much stronger than at the middle stage. If I wanted a clear increase, it should be after reaching Foundation Establishment Perfection."

He straightened his Taoist robe, stretched his legs, and once again assumed the stance of the sect’s Neijiaquan.

After practicing a round of fists and kicks, he could feel the high-grade Tao Foundation in his body that opened the eight gates and erecting six curtains, constantly providing mana, nourishing his flesh and blood, boosting the strength, speed, and reflexes of his body in every way.

Around Lei Jun, Spiritual Energy gathered with each punch, swirling as if forming a small spirit-filled tornado.

Once Lei Jun finished his punches and stood at attention in the stance again, the Spiritual Energy vortex centered on him quietly drew together and settled down.

"Not bad, if I practice more every day, after acclimating further to these changes, it could improve a bit more," Lei Jun nodded slightly.

Next, he could continue cultivating from advanced Foundation Establishment towards Perfection.

In the Tao Foundation Altar, if he condensed the illusory Six Halls once more successfully, he would reach Foundation Establishment Perfection and be ready to charge at the Third Heavenly Layer.

"Green Stone Ink aids cultivation, it’s more effective for going from mid-Foundation to advanced than it is for advanced to Perfection..."

Lei Jun had expected this long ago.

From mid-Foundation to advanced, Yuan Mobai’s method helped him cut the time almost in half.

He had expected it to take around three years, now just about a year and a half was enough for success.

From advanced Foundation to Perfection, the effect was a bit weaker.

Without Green Stone Ink, it would take about six years; now, it looked like four years should do.

...If, during this period, some lucky chance or resources gave another push, the time might get even shorter.

There was no urgency—if he just cultivated steadily and made preparations, he could seize the chance when it arrived.

Lei Jun stayed even-keeled and kept himself focused on cultivation.

As he and Yuan Mobai had agreed before, after reaching advanced Foundation Establishment, Lei Jun finally moved out from his master’s private Green Stone Ink mine beneath the mansion and back to his own residence in the mansion.

Now, when he went to pick up his issued supplies, he no longer needed Wang Guiyuan to handle it for him; Lei Jun resumed making public appearances.

Even though he now had Yuan Mobai’s Vermilion Peak Pen, when Lei Jun collected his talisman paper and ink, he still took the matching quantity of Black Rabbit Hair Talisman Brushes.

On one hand, he continued to keep the matter of having the Vermilion Peak Pen a secret; on the other, for regular talisman crafting practice, he actually did need some ordinary Black Rabbit Hair Brushes.

Ever since Lei Jun started showing his face again, familiar true inheritors of the Celestial Master Mansion stopped by to visit one after another.

After missing him last time, both Fang Jian, the fourth direct disciple of the Celestial Master’s transmission, and Shangguan Hong, Elder Shangguan’s disciple—whom Lei Jun hadn’t seen for a year and a half—showed up again.

This time, though, all the interactions and conversations were much more simple and down-to-earth, more like normal coming and going between fellow disciples.

Senior sister Xu Yuanzhen had yet to return since she left the mountain last time.

Most people’s attention had shifted to Yuan Mobai.

*After experiencing "imprisonment," Lei Jun’s daily life seemed even more low-key.*

There was one visitor, however, who caught him a bit off guard.

"Lei, it’s good to be steady by nature, but you’re still young. Don’t lose your edge,"

a young Taoist looked at Lei Jun and spoke slowly.

The other man’s surname was Luo, given name Haoran.

Back when Lei Jun was still in the Tao Boy Court, he had interacted with Luo Haoran twice before.

Once was during the theft at the Tao Boy Court,

and once was for disaster relief and epidemic work at Qingyun Shoal Riverside.

At that time, Taoist Luo had really appreciated Lei Jun.

After Lei Jun underwent the Transcension Ritual and formally became a true inheritor of Celestial Master Mansion, they became fellow disciples in the sect.

They weren’t of the same lineage, but had interacted several times.

Their relationship wasn’t as close as with Xu Yuanzhen, Tang Xiaotang, or Wang Guiyuan, but still quite good.

*Afterwards, Lei Jun was confined, so they hadn’t seen each other for more than a year.*

"Master Yuan is easygoing by nature, he won’t dwell on the past. Even if things get bumpy at times, you really don’t need to worry too much, Lei," Luo Haoran said,

Lei Jun replied, "Don’t worry, brother. I treat everything that happened as training from my master. I won’t be defeated by it."

Luo Haoran relaxed, "Good, I was just overthinking. Your mindset has always been praiseworthy, Lei."

After a few more words, Luo Haoran took his leave.

Lei Jun saw him out, watching his back disappear, and smiled to himself.

During the days that followed, Lei Jun kept cultivating at his own pace, unswayed by outside influences.

Although he didn’t stay long in the mines anymore, Green Stone Ink was still supplied to him without interruption.

During his cultivation, Lei Jun discovered something else that interested him.

Green Stone Ink needed long-term contact before it would cause accumulative damage to a low realm cultivator’s flesh and body.

So using Green Stone Ink as a direct weapon against cultivators wasn’t very effective.

But as Lei Jun worked alongside Green Stone Ink for extended periods, refining its Spiritual Power and blending it with his own mana to temper his Tao Foundation, during that process his mana gradually began to take on some qualities of Green Stone Ink.

If he could further refine and adjust it, perhaps his mana could have extra effects when facing opponents at the same Foundation Establishment or Altar Stage.

Lei Jun became interested, treating it as a new research topic to pursue during his cultivation.

As time went by, the weather kept warming, heat building, summer looming.

One day in April, Yuan Mobai finished a lesson for his two disciples, then brought up something,

"Soon, the mansion will organize a trial, sending outstanding disciples to cultivate at Yangshan Manor for ten days to half a month."

Lei Jun exchanged glances with Wang Guiyuan, "Yangshan Manor, Xuanyang Cave Heaven? That’s the new Cave Heaven and Blessed Land our sect just opened up outside?"

The Celestial Master Mansion was large and prosperous. Besides the Ancestral Court on Dragon Tiger Mountain, it had set up several manors and Cave Heavens in other Spirit Veins, some of them exceptionally rich in Spiritual energy.

Xuanyang Cave Heaven was the newest, and the mansion had founded Yangshan Manor around it.

Two or three years ago, Yuan Mobai himself had visited there to help with surveying and stabilizing the new Cave Heaven and Blessed Land.

Xuanyang Cave Heaven contained the Mysterious Hollow, filled with blazing Spiritual energy, making it even more effective for cultivation than the Cloud Sea Immortal Pond.

Yuan Mobai explained, "The manor outside the Cave Heaven is already stable. As long as you don’t venture too deep into Xuanyang Cave Heaven, it’s mature and safe enough for new disciples."

He smiled, "So, Ziyang is organizing this trial, sending Second and Third Heavenly Layer disciples, and I’ve been given two spots to fill."

"Master, it’s not that I don’t trust you and Master Ziyang," Wang Guiyuan laughed, "But if possible, I’d rather skip this round."

Seeing Lei Jun turn toward him, Wang Guiyuan explained,

"Xuanyang Cave Heaven is newly opened, not quite settled yet. It might be better to wait this time and go later.

Of course, after what happened two years ago at Cloud Sea Immortal Pond, Master Ziyang and the others will be extra careful about safety this time.

Still, Lei, listen to me for a moment, in life it’s better to be cautious. Maybe you’ll miss a few opportunities, but you’ll steer clear of unknown danger."

*Lei Jun listened quietly.*

*But his attention was inside his own mind.*

*There, the light sphere flashed again, with two lots flying out,*

[The manor is newly founded, the Cave Heaven just established. Danger that seems real is actually safe. Misfortune will turn to good fortune.]

[Best lot, go to Yangshan Manor. Crisis will come, but if you enter Xuanyang Cave Heaven, you’ll be startled but unharmed, gain a Fourth Rank Opportunity, and have room to grow with no worries. Truly auspicious!]

[Perfectly neutral lot, don’t go to Yangshan Manor or Xuanyang Cave Heaven. Stay at Celestial Master Mansion to cultivate in peace. No surprises or gains, just staying flat.]