"A
True Yang Treasure Tree
. A
True Yang Mystic Flower
."
Looking at the pure white flower, Lei Jun was struck with sudden inspiration, and these terms surfaced in his mind.
He hadn’t heard of these names before, but he was certain this was what he needed. The
Tianshi Seal
and the
True-One Altar
were both reacting to this spiritual flower.
If he nurtured this immortal seedling with
Nine Saints Frost
, it could further enhance his
bone structure
when paired with the
True-One Altar
.
Lei Jun's gaze swept over the tree, and he saw that the
True Yang Treasure Tree
bore only this single
True Yang Mystic Flower
.
Considering the timing, he made a swift decision and summoned his
Breath-Taking Flag
. A dense, earthen glow enveloped the flower-bearing branch of the
True Yang Treasure Tree
, attempting to extract it.
The seemingly aged
True Yang Treasure Tree
was remarkably resilient; the branch was tough to break.
With the
Breath-Taking Flag
in hand, Lei Jun struggled for a moment before finally breaking off the branch.
In that brief moment, the pure white petals of the
True Yang Mystic Flower
already showed signs of closing again.
It seemed this flower bloomed only briefly at sunrise under specific conditions. The moment was fleeting; if missed, the petals would retreat into the bud in a near-miraculous rejuvenation process. Lei Jun marveled at the boundless wonders of the world.
No wonder the two upper-moderate omens conflicted with each other in timing...
Lei Jun thought.
He wasn’t sure what was happening at
Xianming Spring
, but rushing there now would likely be too late.
Likewise, if he had gone to
Xianming Spring
first and couldn't resolve things quickly, by the time he reached
Nanhua Cliff
, the
True Yang Mystic Flower
would have vanished.
As if it had never bloomed.
Even now, though Lei Jun had broken the branch, the flower still showed signs of closing.
With a thought, he channeled the
Breath-Taking Flag's
energy, sustaining the
True Yang Mystic Flower
’s bloom for a while longer.
With a flick of his crimson Daoist robe sleeve, he stored the
Breath-Taking Flag
. Lei Jun bowed respectfully toward
Nanhua Cliff
, thanking the heavens and earth for producing such a rare treasure. Then, riding a cloud, he descended the cliff face and returned to the ground.
After checking his surroundings to ensure no one else was present, Lei Jun resumed wandering the
Grotto-Heaven
as if nothing had happened.
As he strolled along, he passed by
Xianming Spring
. Having made his choice, Lei Jun didn’t dwell on the
Third-Grade Opportunity
there, but he was curious if someone else had claimed it. What would happen if someone obtained it?
As he reached
Xianming Spring
, he noticed a woman standing on the opposite side of the pool.
She wore a Daoist robe, her features elegant and serene, with a transcendent grace as she stood by the water.
But the woman—
Senior Sister Zhang Jingzhen
—seemed to be in a daze.
Lei Jun raised an eyebrow.
Her slightly peculiar demeanor sparked his curiosity, but he maintained his composure and greeted her casually: “
Senior Sister Zhang
?”
Startled by his approach, Zhang Jingzhen snapped out of her reverie and focused her gaze. “Lei Junior Brother.”
“I checked over there; no other disciples are present,” Lei Jun said nonchalantly.
Zhang Jingzhen nodded slightly. “I encountered two people earlier and instructed them to meet at
Immortal Bamboo Grove
.”
She glanced past
Xianming Spring
into the distance. “Have you been over there yet?”
Lei Jun shook his head. “Not yet, I was just about to head that way.”
“Then let’s go together,” she suggested.
The two of them soared on clouds, flying over
Xianming Spring
.
Zhang Jingzhen’s gaze swept quickly over the water, almost imperceptibly, her eyes still somewhat unfocused.
Lei Jun glanced at the spring as they passed, but everything seemed the same as before.
Only the faint echoes of the Dao’s principles still lingered.
It was as if nothing had happened.
But the earlier subtle reaction from the
Tianshi Seal
and the
True-One Altar
had now vanished. The
Third-Grade Opportunity
that might have been here was clearly gone.
After a brief search, Lei Jun and Zhang Jingzhen gathered two other fellow disciples and headed to
Immortal Bamboo Grove
.
With Zhang Jingzhen taking charge, Lei Jun kept silent, quietly meditating and absorbing the abundant spiritual energy of the grove.
When the designated time arrived, Zhang Jingzhen led everyone back to the starting area.
Sure enough, flashes of lightning danced across the ground, opening a path in the cloud-like surface.
Lei Jun and the others entered, surrounded by intertwined rays of lightning and radiant light.
When their vision cleared, they found themselves back atop
Mount Longhu's
main peak.
The clouds above sealed once more, leaving only the rumble of thunder and flashes of lightning.
This time, the presiding
Elder
was not
Shangguan Ning
but Lei Jun’s master,
Yuan Mobai
.
With few
Elder Masters
available, everyone had duties, and the
Upper Qing Thunder Altar Grotto-Heaven
also operated on a rotation system.
“Jingzhen, everything alright?” Yuan Mobai greeted Zhang Jingzhen first, checking on an injured talismanic disciple.
His demeanor was ever warm and reassuring.
Once the aftermath was settled, Yuan Mobai finally nodded toward Lei Jun.
Lei Jun followed his master off the main peak, and they spoke only after reaching Yuan Mobai’s residence.
“A
True Yang Treasure Tree
, huh...” Yuan Mobai exclaimed in wonder. “It blooms so rarely, and even then, for just a fleeting moment. Miss it once, and who knows when it’ll bloom again.”
Lei Jun replied, “It was pure luck that I stumbled upon it. It blooms at sunrise, and the petals begin to close almost immediately. Luckily, I harvested it just in time.”
As he spoke, he handed the
Breath-Taking Flag
to Yuan Mobai along with the flower.
Yuan Mobai marveled at the
True Yang Mystic Flower
, his expression turning more complex when he saw the
Breath-Taking Flag
.
“I knew you had exceptional artifacts, but I didn’t expect this one,” Yuan Mobai said, quickly regaining his composure.
Lei Jun’s curiosity showed plainly on his face.
Yuan Mobai smiled but offered no details. Handing the flag back, he said simply, “This treasure comes from
Shushan
.”
Lei Jun nodded silently. He had suspected as much.
Shushan
, also known as the
Shushan Sect
, was revered alongside
Mount Longhu's Tianshi Mansion
and
Zhongnan Mountain's Pure Yang Palace
.
Mount Longhu
was the ancestral home of the
Talismanic Branch
.
Zhongnan Mountain
was the home of the
Internal Alchemy Sect
(also called the
Daoist Alchemical Sect
).
In contrast,
Shushan
was the holy land of the
External Alchemy Sect
—the foremost sect for crafting artifacts.
The world of Daoist cultivation considered all external items refined by practitioners to be
External Alchemy
, whether they were pills or artifacts.
Shushan
was renowned for producing artifact-wielding
Sword Immortals
.
Though many trained in flying swords as their life-bound artifact, this was just one branch of
Shushan's
diverse traditions.
Lei Jun recounted how he obtained the
Breath-Taking Flag
, omitting only a few details.
Yuan Mobai didn’t press further. “This treasure likely dates back to the
Chen Dynasty
.”
The
True Yang Mystic Flower
would naturally close soon. But under Yuan Mobai’s guidance, Lei Jun bathed it in
Nine Saints Frost
.
A faint glow emanated from the flower, preserving its bloom.
“Now, we wait patiently,” Yuan Mobai said. “Once nurtured by
Nine Saints Frost
, it will be ready for you.”
Lei Jun nodded, sensing the same through his connection with the
Tianshi Seal
and the
True-One Altar
.
“This makes two opportunities,” Lei Jun mused. “It seems one more is needed.”
“Based on your cultivation path, the third opportunity should counterbalance the
True Yang Mystic Flower
,” Yuan Mobai said.
“Something of
True Yin
, then.” Lei Jun understood.
“I’ll keep an eye out,” Yuan Mobai promised.
After returning to his residence, Lei Jun carefully stored the flower and settled into meditation, focusing on his cultivation.
Time passed through August and September, and autumn gradually set in.
Lei Jun remained on
Mount Longhu
, fully dedicated to his cultivation.
While the world outside was filled with turmoil, he focused on improving himself.
One day, Lei Jun decided to go to the
Treasure Pavilion
to collect some
Vermilion Cloud Paper
.
At the pavilion, he ran into an old acquaintance—
Shangguan Hong
, who had entered the mansion in the same year as him during the
Initiation Ceremony
and became a
True Disciple
of the
Tianshi Mansion
.
Beside Shangguan Hong stood a medium-built Daoist with an unassuming appearance and a calm, steady aura. He looked about thirty years old, his expression serene and composed.
“
Senior Brother Lin
,
Junior Brother Shangguan
,” Lei Jun greeted them.
The thirty-year-old Daoist smiled warmly. “Lei Junior Brother?”
His name was
Lin Shan
, the eldest direct disciple of
Elder Shangguan Ning
and Shangguan Hong’s senior brother.
Though not widely known like
Li Xuan
or
Li Kong
, Lin Shan was a standout among the younger generation of
Tianshi Mansion
, having long since received his
Talisman Conferral
.
Shangguan Hong hesitated slightly before greeting Lei Jun with a respectful bow. “Lei Daozhang.”
Out of respect, the apprentices in the
Daoist Children’s Academy
addressed all
True Disciples
who had undergone initiation as
Daozhang
(Daoist Master). By etiquette, initiated Daoists also addressed
Talismanic Disciples
as
Daozhang
or
Elder
.
Hence the saying:
“Initiate Daoists, Talismanic Daoists.”
Lei Jun shook his head. “We entered the mansion the same year and often interacted. No need for such formality, Junior Brother Shangguan.”
“Then I’ll rely on Senior Brother Lei’s guidance from now on,” Shangguan Hong said, though his expression was tinged with melancholy. “Given your achievements, Senior Brother, you’re a role model for us.”
Shangguan Hong sighed.
He had cultivated diligently over the years and never slacked off. Despite his aunt being
Elder Shangguan Ning
, she was a strict teacher.
His progress wasn’t slow. With his
Exceptional Comprehension
and
Superior Bone Structure
, it would normally take around ten years to reach the
Foundation Establishment Stage
.
With various opportunities and spiritual items aiding his cultivation, Shangguan Hong had now reached the
High Foundation Stage
and was confident he could achieve
Perfection in Foundation Establishment
within a year.
That meant it would have taken him six or seven years since his initiation—an above-average pace even in the prestigious
Tianshi Mansion
or the
Shangguan Family
.
But compared to Lei Jun, it was like comparing a candle to the sun.
In less than six years, Lei Jun had not only successfully established his foundation but also advanced to the
Third Heaven Altar Stage
and then the
Fourth Heaven Primal Talisman Stage
.
As the saying goes,
“Comparing goods leads to discarding them; comparing people leads to despair.”
The gap was so vast that Shangguan Hong felt numb rather than frustrated.
Born into the
Shangguan Family
and trained in the
Tianshi Mansion
, Shangguan Hong rarely felt this way.
Despite his complicated feelings when he addressed Lei Jun as
Daozhang
, he harbored no resentment.
“Junior Brother Shangguan, you seem slightly unwell,” Lei Jun observed.
Shangguan Hong nodded, his expression serious. “I was injured during an expedition outside the mountain, but after some treatment and recovery, I’m fine now. Thank you for your concern, Senior Brother Lei.”
Lin Shan spoke calmly, “Junior Brother Shangguan and a few other disciples had an unfortunate encounter with the traitor
Chen Yi
.”
Lei Jun’s eyes narrowed. “Oh?”
Shangguan Hong continued, “We hadn’t traveled far when we unexpectedly ran into... Chen Yi. We fought fiercely but, to our shame, we couldn’t capture him. Several of us were injured, and if he hadn’t retreated to avoid more of our sect’s experts, someone might have died at his hands.”
He glanced at Lin Shan. “Afterward, Senior Brother Lin searched for Chen Yi, but he had already escaped.”
Lin Shan added, “Our intelligence suggests that Chen Yi’s cultivation has advanced since he defected. He has now crossed the
Heavenly Chasm
between the
Second Heaven
and
Third Heaven
, reaching the
First Layer of the Altar Stage
.”
Shangguan Hong sighed again.
While Chen Yi hadn’t progressed as rapidly as Lei Jun, his achievements still left many peers behind.
“Has Chen Yi joined the
Yellow Heaven Sect
?” Lei Jun asked.
Shangguan Hong was unsure, but Lin Shan replied, “The reports on Chen Yi’s connection to the
Yellow Heaven Sect
are inconsistent. Some say he sought to join but was rejected. The details remain unclear and need further investigation.”
“I see...” Lei Jun raised an eyebrow. “Then why is he approaching
Mount Longhu
again?”
Even if he had some hidden trump card, it made no sense to challenge the mansion now. Wouldn’t it be better to bide his time until he was stronger?
No matter what powerful trump card he has, he should work hard and wait until he is stronger in the future before returning to slap his face, right?
It is not possible that he is only at the third level of the sky now, and he has to rely on himself to defeat Longhu Mountain?