Trouble All Around, Yet Not a Leaf Clings to Him

Xu Yuanzhen casually waved her hand, clearing the ink drawings from the paper again, then turned to look at Lei Jun.

Lei Jun slowly asked, "Senior Sister, if—just if—I don't want that kind of good life?"

Xu Yuanzhen's eyes brightened as she sized Lei Jun up once more. "On your trip to the Cloud Sea Immortal Pool, aside from being nourished by the pool water, did you obtain any other opportunity?"

Lei Jun frankly took out his Spirit Gathering Talisman. "By a chance coincidence, I obtained this."

"Mist-Wreathed Cloud Crystal?"

Xu Yuanzhen nodded. "Then go see Little Martial Uncle."

Lei Jun asked, "Master?"

When he met Yuan Mobai, the latter likewise did not ask for the specific details of how Lei Jun had acquired the Mist-Wreathed Cloud Crystal. He merely nodded slightly. "Disciple Yuan Zhen sent you here? Mist-Wreathed Cloud Crystal... yes, it truly is rare."

Lei Jun said, "When this disciple previously consulted the sect's records, I saw relevant accounts stating that this treasure can help cultivators at Foundation Establishment Perfection in the Second Heaven break through to the Third Heaven."

Yuan Mobai said, "Correct. It does indeed have that effect."

He looked at Lei Jun and pondered briefly before continuing.

"Chongyun, you possess the Hidden Dragon Spirit Body, and your cultivation has not been slow. But as your cultivation realm gradually rises, the time and effort required will inevitably increase. Much painstaking, water-wearing work cannot be spared in the end."

Lei Jun said, "This disciple understands and would not dare be careless."

Yuan Mobai said, "I have a cultivation method here that can help you advance faster within the Foundation Establishment realm. Both the Foundation Establishment High Stage and Foundation Establishment Perfection can be reached more quickly."

Lei Jun asked curiously, "You mean?"

Yuan Mobai said, "There is an item called Azure Stone Ink. It is originally an excellent material for talisman ink, but it can also help Foundation Establishment cultivators progress swiftly and reach Foundation Establishment Perfection sooner."

Lei Jun listened quietly, knowing Yuan Mobai had not finished speaking.

"However, prolonged exposure to Azure Stone Ink can damage the bodies of low-realm cultivators and greatly affect a Foundation Establishment Perfection cultivator's ability to cross the Heavenly Moat and attain the Third Heaven. It carries considerable hidden dangers, so I had not mentioned it to any of you before."

Yuan Mobai said, "But with Mist-Wreathed Cloud Crystal, the hidden dangers brought by Azure Stone Ink can be remedied. Unfortunately, Mist-Wreathed Cloud Crystal had been difficult to find before."

He looked at Lei Jun and said gently, "Previously, it was all conjecture on my part. Now that I have personally seen the Mist-Wreathed Cloud Crystal you brought back, I feel my earlier idea should work.

"Moreover, the effects of the Mist-Wreathed Cloud Crystal should be able to completely erase Azure Stone Ink's hidden dangers without affecting itself.

"In other words, you can still use the Mist-Wreathed Cloud Crystal to strike at the Heavenly Moat before the Third Heaven and withstand the fierce tribulation."

A Light Sphere suddenly flickered in Lei Jun's mind, and words appeared:

Xiang Zhuang danced with his sword, but his intent lay with the Duke of Pei. Dragons fought in droves; place your piece and choose a side. Misfortune and fortune depended upon each other.

Then two Sign Fortunes appeared before Lei Jun:

Upper Middle Auspicious Sign: Go to the Azure Stone Ink Mine to cultivate in seclusion. Obtain one Fifth Grade Opportunity. Step beyond wind and rain, watch the dragons at play with detachment, and do not enter the chaos. Auspicious.

Lower Middle Auspicious Sign: Remain in the mansion to cultivate. Obtain one Seventh Grade Opportunity and one Eighth Grade Opportunity, but become trapped in the whirlpool, drawing the attention of all sides. Hidden dangers abound, and conflict awaits at every turn. Inauspicious.

Who was dancing with the sword, and at whom was its blade pointed? It did not mean Yuan Mobai's arrangement was improper.

On the contrary, even if there were implications beneath Yuan Mobai's words, they were not harmful to Lei Jun. He was guiding him to stay apart from the matter and avoid the whirlpool.

Dragons fought in droves; place your piece and choose a side...

Step beyond wind and rain, and calmly watch the show...

Trapped in the whirlpool, hidden dangers everywhere...

Even before Xu Yuanzhen said anything, Lei Jun had already sensed something.

Eldest Sister had certainly made a display of power this time.

But those whose prestige she had swept aside could do nothing to her for the moment, so they might turn their attention to those connected to her.

As one of only two disciples Xu Yuanzhen had brought back to the mountain, Lei Jun could no longer stay hidden these days, no matter how low-key he had been before.

It was not that Elder Ziyang and the others might retaliate in kind and immediately take a knife to him, little martial nephew Lei Chongyun.

Quite the opposite. It was more likely they would show goodwill, attempt to win him over, and test the waters.

The Li Family now needed to work hard to improve its image, make up for the loss of prestige caused by Li Ming, repair the relationship between the Li Surname and other surnames, and unite the hearts of the Celestial Master Mansion.

If Lei Jun had to guess, the other side might even play the tragedy card next. Elder Ziyang had, after all, watched his black-haired son die before his white-haired eyes. Since Li Ming was dead and no longer mattered, they could only drag out his father to sell misery.

Beyond that, they would unite a group of disciples from other surnames, focusing on nurturing them and setting them up as examples.

Xu Yuanzhen and Yuan Mobai were both top-ranking figures of other surnames within the Celestial Master Mansion.

Lei Jun, who was close to both of them at the same time, was naturally an ideal target for the Li Family to show goodwill toward.

There would be no shortage of sugar-coated shells, testing Little Taoist Priest Lei by every possible means.

The Seventh Grade Opportunity and Eighth Grade Opportunity mentioned in the Lower Middle Auspicious Sign were probably only the beginning.

But the Celestial Master Mansion, which had founded a sect and established its school many years ago, ran very deep indeed...

Of course, Lei Jun could take the chance to court favor from every side, place pieces on multiple boards, and eat from both the upper house and the lower house.

Even if things went wrong, with Xu Yuanzhen and Yuan Mobai around, there would not be much danger.

If he possessed the cultivation and strength that Xu Yuanzhen, Yuan Mobai, and Tang Xiaotang had now, he might have the leisure to watch what tricks the other side intended to play.

But at present, Lei Jun preferred a quiet environment where he could focus on improving his own cultivation.

After coming to this world, he had found a real world of Dao cultivation, arts, and supernatural abilities unlike anything he had possessed on Blue Star. That was what interested him, not scheming and jockeying with others.

Otherwise, how could any of this be more interesting than scrolling on his phone on Blue Star and fooling around with absurd netizens...

Besides, choosing the Upper Middle Auspicious Sign would grant him a Fifth Grade Opportunity, of a higher grade than the Seventh and Eighth Grade Opportunities from the Lower Middle Auspicious Sign.

"Master, Azure Stone Ink is rare and precious upper-grade talisman ink. Would it be inappropriate for this disciple to use it for cultivation and consume a large quantity of it?" Lei Jun asked.

Yuan Mobai smiled and shook his head. "It is fine. Though it is on Dragon Tiger Mountain, there is a mine vein located beneath my private residence. Its extraction and use are all for my personal expenses."

Lei Jun said, "Then this disciple asks Master to permit me to enter the Azure Stone Ink Mine for cultivation from now on.

"Cultivating amid the mine vein's environment should be more conducive to this disciple focusing wholeheartedly on cultivation."

"Very well."

Yuan Mobai smiled, his tone as gentle as ever. "In that case, regular lessons will also be moved to my private residence. If you have other matters, contact your Senior Brother Chonggui."

His smile became slightly more pronounced. "Of course, this is not a punishment that will confine you indoors. You may still come and go freely; simply keep a lower profile. I will speak with Disciple Yuan Zhen."

Lei Jun smiled as well. "This disciple understands. Thank you, Master, for your guidance."

Outside the small courtyard where Lei Jun lived, a Young Daoist stopped at the entrance.

He was Shangguan Hong, who had participated in the Chuan Du Initiation in the same year as Lei Jun.

Shangguan Hong examined the courtyard. "Out?"

His fingers pinched the brocade box tucked within his sleeve as he recalled what someone had told him earlier:

"Fellow disciples are merely visiting one another normally. There is no need for you to feel any pressure. If you get along well, simply pass this item on to Junior Brother Lei.

"When the time is right, help me invite Junior Brother Lei as well. We can all sit together. Fellow disciples ought to keep in close and friendly contact."

Just as Shangguan Hong was considering whether to leave Lei Jun a note, he suddenly saw someone else approaching.

The newcomer was a Young Adult Daoist, handsome, refined, and elegant. He was Fang Jian, the Celestial Master's fourth personal disciple, whom Shangguan Hong had met several times before.

"Junior Brother Shangguan?" Fang Jian smiled when he saw him. "Here to see Junior Brother Lei?"

Shangguan Hong returned his greeting. "I found Senior Brother Lei very congenial in the Cloud Sea Immortal Pool."

Fang Jian smiled. "The disturbance at the Immortal Pool happened suddenly. I was entrusted to come see several of you as a gesture of concern. Since you are here, all the better—I need not make a separate trip to your place. One visit lets me see both you and Junior Brother Lei."

Shangguan Hong thanked Fang Jian, then looked toward Lei Jun's residence. "Senior Brother Lei seems to be out."

Fang Jian walked a few more steps to Lei Jun's neighboring residence, where Wang Guiyuan happened to be.

"You two have come at an unfortunate time. Junior Brother Lei is indeed away at present," Wang Guiyuan said.

Fang Jian was polite and courteous. "We have disturbed Senior Brother Wang. We will come visit Senior Brother Wang and Junior Brother Lei again later."

Wang Guiyuan sighed. "You two, just the day before yesterday, my master arranged for Junior Brother Lei to enter the Azure Stone Ink Mine for quiet cultivation. Unless something extraordinarily important happens, I fear he will not leave the mine for the next year or two."

Fang Jian: "?"

Shangguan Hong: "?"