Cultivation: Fortune by Lots

Chapter 789 - 316. Dragon Tiger Mountain Three Arrows Fired (Two-in-One Chapter)_4

There wasn’t much valuable information, but after careful study, one particular report was presented to the Empress and Lei Jun.Comparing how the people of the Mortal Tao Country once addressed Huang Xuanpu as "Emperor," did that actually point to this so-called Western White Emperor?

*What stood out even more, with the cardinal directions specifically listed, was that this implied there must be at least three or four others on the same level as him.*

*But where would such people have come from?*

Mount Shu Sect Leader Fu Dongsen honored Huang Xuanpu as the Master of the Mortal Tao Country and called him Emperor; there was no way they could be equals.

If every position must match perfectly, then in the current Great Tang Realm, aside from Huang Xuanpu, only Xu Yuanzhen counted as a Daoist Mahayana at the Nine Heavens Realm.

Even if you put Xu Yuanzhen into the equation, what do you do about the other two or three open slots?

*Did such people simply not exist?*

*Were they experts from other Taoist heritages?*

The Empress later looked up, gazing at Lei Jun.

"Your Majesty, in my humble opinion, this intelligence still needs further verification."

Lei Jun set down the memorial and said, "It could very well be true, but it’s just as likely to be Huang Xuanpu running a misdirection to bluff people, or possibly trying to throw others under the bus."

The Empress nodded slightly, "Have the Xu Family and Tang Family continue their work, and when the Lei Ministerial House returns to Dragon Tiger Mountain, have them lead the Celestial Master Mansion in investigating this matter."

Lei Jun stood to take his leave, "Yes, Your Majesty."

From beginning to end, the Empress did not mention anything about the Celestial Book Universe.

Lei Jun likewise didn’t say more.

After leaving the Imperial Palace, it was almost time for Lei Jun and his disciple to begin their return to the mountain.

Lin Shan had already waited for his fellow sect member to take over his duty.

After the two reported to Lei Jun, one stayed behind while Lin Shan headed south with Lei Jun and his disciple, journeying back to the mountain.

Lei Jun did not refuse.

Right before they left, there were many rewards from the palace, all of which Lei Jun and his party would bring back with them.

A variety of basic but abundant spiritual objects were given in bulk to the Celestial Master Mansion; next, all the young disciples and juniors there would likely benefit from them.

As for Lei Jun himself, the Tang Imperial Family bestowed a special treasure on him, hoping that Elder Lei would rise even higher in every area in the future.

This heavenly material was named Purple Mansion Mist.

When a cultivator refined it, it helped them better attune with nature and the universe and build their own bridge with the human world.

This wasn’t just helpful to the Talisman Sect; it was also a tremendous boon to the Daoist Refinement, Alchemy Cauldron Sect, both branches of Confucian Chanting and Scripture Studies, and even other lineages as well.

For the talisman cultivators, refining this Purple Mansion Mist would allow them to better perceive the internal and external cosmos, forging deeper connections.

Without a doubt, it greatly helped Divine Court cultivators achieve their own External Scenery Universe earlier.

It would even play a role later, transitioning from the Eighth Layer, threefold Divine Court External Scenery to the Eighth Layer, fourfold Divine Court Superior Vista during their cultivation progress.

For Lei Jun at present, the Empress’s gift was both highly relevant to his circumstances and held great weight.

Still, Lei Jun was in no rush to refine the Purple Mansion Mist just yet.

*He had some unique ideas about his own Divine Court External Scenery.*

*He could take his time to ponder after returning to the mountain.*

At the moment, Lei Jun, his disciple, and Lin Shan first left the capital together.

Something a bit unexpected occurred: the current Crown Prince Zhang Hui, with the Empress’s permission, was about to embark on the second journey of his life.

With the Empress’s return to the capital, the Crown Prince stepped down from his regency responsibilities.

Generally speaking, as the foundation of the nation, the Eastern Palace Crown Prince rarely had the chance to leave the capital.

But this time, the Empress still allowed Zhang Hui to go out.

Last time Zhang Hui traveled far, his journey took him to the three great Taoist Sacred Lands: Pure Yang Palace, Mount Shu Sect, and the Celestial Master Mansion.

Out again, even though he said he wished to revisit those places, since it was so hard to get leave from the capital, this time he prioritized the chief Buddhist Sacred Lands along his route.

If time permitted on his return, he would also visit several Taoist Sacred Lands.

Lei Jun behaved as usual, politely expressing the whole of Dragon Tiger Mountain Celestial Master Mansion’s welcome to His Highness the Crown Prince—though his manner was mild rather than overly enthusiastic.

The Crown Prince Zhang Hui’s first stop was Southern Bodhi Temple.

After leaving Luoyang, he and the three traveling with Lei Jun also headed south, so they went part of the way together before splitting off in different directions later.

Though Zhang Hui’s trip could be considered traveling light, there were still plenty of attendants, with representatives from all sorts of factions.

Especially as Zhang Hui was planning to visit several great Buddhist Sacred Lands, Southern Bodhi, Tianlong Temple, and Xuantian Temple all sent eminent monks to accompany him.

Even the Western Region Buddhism also sent someone.

Although, the current plans for Zhang Hui’s route didn’t actually include the Western Regions.

While traveling with them, Zhuo Baojie watched several monks climb into the Crown Prince’s carriage.

Lei Jun asked casually, "Jealous?"

Zhuo Baojie withdrew his gaze and shook his head, "Disciple was just reminded that, during the White Horse Mountain Ritual Conference, I once heard those masters argue doctrine."

After a slight pause, he added, "But much of what those masters said left me full of questions, especially about the doctrine of karma across three lifetimes..."

Lei Jun said, "Karma in one lifetime is nothing special, as for past lives’ retribution, you might as well just listen and let it pass.

You don’t have to do good for some future life or afterlife. It’s good for the world to have more kindness and good deeds.

But if anyone tells you you’re suffering now because of sins in a past life and must atone, keep your distance. Maybe he wasn’t the cause of your suffering originally, but he’ll be the reason you keep suffering."

Zhuo Baojie still looked a little confused, but nodded quickly, "Yes, Master, I will remember."

Since the conversation was right beside Lei Jun, they weren’t concerned about being overheard, so Lin Shan felt free to interject, sighing,

"In earlier years it was mostly Xuantian Temple talking about this, but in the last few centuries, more and more people at Tianlong Temple and Bodhi Temple have been saying the same."

"Because those in power like it."

Lei Jun said, "The dynasty and Taoist, Buddhist, and Confucian sects would keep influencing one another, and that will always continue."

Lin Shan winced, "Lei, you’d best be careful saying that!"

Lei Jun said, "Though Her Majesty the Empress is usually up to all sorts of tricks, she doesn’t really show it on this front."

Lin Shan nodded lightly.

He glanced wordlessly at the Crown Prince’s carriage.

*But whether Her Majesty the Empress would change in the future, or if her successor would take a different path, that was just impossible to predict...*

While Lei Jun and the others chatted idly, there were others nearby observing and commenting on them as well.

"Her Majesty granted the Purple Mansion Mist to Dragon Tiger Mountain’s Lei Chongyun—does she really think she can still control him?"

Ye Song of the Qingzhou Ye Clan, drifting on the wind behind the Crown Prince’s carriage, whispered to Ye Cheng beside him.

With the Purple Mansion Mist, Lei Jun would be able to advance to even the Eighth Layer, Threefold Realm, or even the Eighth Layer, Fourfold Realm faster and more smoothly.

Even if the Heavenly Moat Tribulation separating the Eighth and Ninth Heavenly Layers still lay ahead, Lei Jun’s current youth and upward momentum were already putting huge pressure on everyone else.

Dragon Tiger Mountain Celestial Master Mansion didn’t just have Lei Jun.

Xu Yuanzhen had already reached the Ninth Heavenly Layer.

The latest news said Tang Xiaotang, after stirring trouble outside, had also reached the Eightfold Heaven Perfect Realm.

Now with Lei Jun, the three soared forward side by side.

Unless Lei Jun and Tang Xiaotang perished during the Heavenly Moat Tribulation between Eighth and Ninth Heavens, in Ye Song’s mind it was very possible to imagine Celestial Master Mansion fielding three Mahayana Taoists at once.

That vision—never mind the Qingzhou Ye Clan or any Confucian Family of the Great Tang, who among all the other powers inside and outside the Great Tang could stay calm about it?

Would the Tang Imperial Family really allow such a mighty force to exist right within the Great Tang’s own territory?

"Back then, we chose Bodhi Temple together with Youzhou and Cangzhou, which truly was a mistake."

Ye Cheng responded flatly, "If we made the wrong choice, we must bear the consequences. Nothing else needs saying."

He actually turned to look at Imperial Capital Luoyang, "Her Majesty has always acted recklessly; that hurts us in some ways, but it’s not all bad. The key is how we play it."

Turning his gaze back to Ye Song, he added, "But for now, don’t make any moves lightly."

Ye Song assented.

The group continued southward, coming up on the spot where Lei Jun and his party would separate.

After this fork, one route went east by Huai Mountain and Tiangu Ridge through the mountains toward Southern Bodhi, the other continued south over Lixian Mountain and through the Yunxiao Mountain Range, heading on to Dragon Tiger Mountain.

The Crown Prince Zhang Hui said longingly, "I hope I have another chance to visit Elder Lei and the Celestial Master Mansion."

Lei Jun said, "Our Sect always welcomes Your Highness at any time..."

But even as he spoke, a ball of light suddenly shimmered in his mind, and writing appeared within it,

[Tender Dragon’s Perilous Journey, Great Earth’s Origin.]

Soon after, three lots appeared in his vision,

[Best lot, do not see Zhang Hui off but head southwest to Luping Mountain; there’s a chance of obtaining a third-rank opportunity, with no risk and no future troubles—supremely auspicious!]

[Perfectly neutral lot, go to Tiangu Ridge; you might encounter a bit of turbulence but nothing serious; you will gain nothing extra, just ordinary.]

[Perfectly neutral lot, don’t go to Luping Mountain or Tiangu Ridge; return by Lixian Mountain or some other route; nothing more gained or lost, ordinary.]

Luping Mountain...Lei Jun pondered deeply.

That pointed to the best lot.

In other words, even if he and his party did not see the Crown Prince Zhang Hui off for an extra distance, he should still take a detour away from Lixian Mountain next, and head instead for Luping Mountain?