Chapter 2: 2. Fate Selection, Avoiding Misfortune

It’s here, but unfortunately, it’s not the best sign again... Lei Jun read the fortune.

Although the descriptions of the three fortunes were somewhat vague, Lei Jun calmly chose the path of the upper-middle sign.

This was the third time he had experienced something similar.

Drawing lots, where misfortune and fortune coexist, the outcome is already clear.

The first time he drew lots was when Lei Jun had just crossed over. A light ball flew out with four fortunes: upper-middle, middle, lower-middle, and lower-lower.

Upper-middle: No surprises, gain a second-grade opportunity, auspicious.

Middle: Escape the current difficulties, but there might be future troubles, no other gains, neutral.

Lower-middle: Gain a fifth-grade opportunity, but fraught with danger, life and death are not in one's control, inauspicious.

Lower-lower: Seek death, certain death, extremely inauspicious!

Lei Jun chose to act according to the upper-middle sign, successfully gaining a second-grade opportunity. Not only did he escape the困境 when he first crossed over, but he also arrived at the Dragon Tiger Mountain Celestial Master's Mansion, a holy site of Daoism.

Upon reflection, he realized that if he had followed the lower-lower sign, he would have ended up in a coffin right after landing.

The lower-middle sign could also be fatal.

The second time he drew lots was after Lei Jun entered the Daoist Child Academy of the Celestial Master's Mansion.

That time, fewer fortunes flew out from the light ball, only middle and lower-middle.

Strictly speaking, neither was particularly good.

But by choosing to act according to the middle sign, Lei Jun successfully avoided the major pitfall of the lower-middle sign.

Today is the third time he draws lots.

The descriptions of the fortunes have always been somewhat vague, but by summarizing and comparing, Lei Jun gradually had a clear idea in his mind.

Lower-lower: Extremely inauspicious, no need for much explanation, it basically means certain death, and even if there are benefits, there is no life to enjoy them.

Lower-middle: Inauspicious, either the bad far outweighs the good, or there is only bad with no good, dangerous or difficult but not as much as the lower-lower, not entirely hopeless.

Middle: Neutral, either a mix of good and bad, or a peaceful and uneventful life with no blessings or misfortunes.

Upper-middle: Auspicious, possibly a great opportunity with a bit of risk and future troubles, overall the gains outweigh the losses, or an uneventful but fruitful gain, though not as astonishing as the upper-middle sign.

As for the upper sign, which Lei Jun had never seen, it should be a very auspicious path, with good fortune and no risks, leading to a full and prosperous life.

This time, Lei Jun still chose the upper-middle sign.

He would not participate in the selection organized by Elder Du.

While Lei Jun was reading the fortune, the other young Daoist children around him had already started rushing out.

"Senior Brother Lei?" Seeing that Lei Jun didn't move, someone stopped and turned to ask.

Lei Jun: "The tasks in this building are not yet complete, it should be done from start to finish. I'll finish today's work first."

"A rare opportunity, go to the selection first. If you don't get selected, come back later to cut the talisman paper." Several Daoist children reminded him.

Lei Jun thought for a moment and still gave a reminder: "Our seniors often examine our progress and test our character. Completing tasks from start to finish without being disturbed by temporary changes might be something they value."

"You have a point, but still, go to Elder Du's place and try." Several young boys waved at him and hurriedly continued running to the front courtyard.

Lei Jun watched them leave and turned back to continue his work.

After finishing his work in the talisman paper building for the day, he finally came out.

Lei Jun looked up at the sky and slowly inquired about the news from Elder Du's side.

Elder Du's selection was not limited to the Sixth Daoist Child Academy but also recruited from other Daoist child academies.

The selection venue was set in an independent cave mansion in the mountains, which Elder Du had privately developed as a separate residence.

The lower-middle sign, going to Elder Du's place to mix and become familiar, actually harbored hidden dangers?

Could it be that Elder Du was going to conduct some dangerous experiments with his own Celestial Master's Mansion disciples?

Lei Jun strolled toward the separate residence.

Just as he reached halfway, he saw a flash in the mountains.

Then came a loud "boom."

The ground shook, and Lei Jun's body swayed.

He looked up and saw a large amount of lightning and fire rising from the sky above Elder Du's separate residence.

Above the Celestial Master's Mansion, numerous lights converged into talismans, forming an array to suppress the explosive lightning.

The lightning's momentum deflected and scattered in all directions.

One of the lightning bolts struck another place in the mountains.

This caused a large amount of golden light to rise into the sky, spreading in the air like fireworks.

"First Elder Du's separate residence, then the Lingzhi Platform?"

Lei Jun roughly determined the direction.

The Lingzhi Platform, mentioned in the middle sign, was a spiritual vein that the Celestial Master's Mansion had controlled since its founding, where precious Flowing Light Lingzhi occasionally grew under the nourishment of spiritual energy.

Using Lingzhi to refine elixirs or consuming it could aid cultivation, with countless benefits.

However, years ago, due to some changes, the Lingzhi Platform was damaged.

Fortunately, in the current era, the spiritual energy in various places is generally more abundant, and cultivation is gradually entering a golden age.

Although the destruction of the Lingzhi Platform is regrettable, the Celestial Master's Mansion, as a holy site of Daoism, continues to develop and occupy new cultivation treasures and spiritual veins.

The Lingzhi Platform has been damaged for many years, so few people usually go there.

After Elder Du's altar exploded, would there be a sixth-grade opportunity there?

While Lei Jun was thinking, he continued on his way, still heading to Elder Du's cave mansion.

A fifth-grade opportunity is better than a sixth-grade opportunity.

When he reached the cave mansion, the area was already in ruins, with scorched earth everywhere.

Many gray-robed young Daoist children lay on the ground, unconscious.

Some Daoist children near the outer area were in better condition, but they were all covered in soot, trembling with fear, and their faces were full of terror.

"What happened?" Lei Jun grabbed a familiar Daoist child from the Sixth Academy.

The other person immediately poured out his grievances upon seeing Lei Jun:

"Senior Brother Lei? Oh, don't even mention it, Elder Du's altar exploded!"

The Daoist child looked back at the exploded cave mansion with lingering fear:

"I heard that some people died, from the Second and Fifth Academies, and more were injured.

Our Sixth Academy's Senior Brother Zhang was the closest, and he was the most severely injured, along with a few others.

They were just sent for medical treatment, and we don't know the outcome yet..."

The young Daoist child was still shaken by the aftermath.

Others gradually approached, looking at the惨状 of the cave mansion, all filled with panic.

"Do not gather here." Someone spoke up.

Everyone turned to see a yellow-robed youth approaching from a distance.

He looked to be about the same age as the young Daoist children.

But unlike the gray-robed Daoist children, this youth wore a light yellow Daoist robe and a Daoist headband, indicating that he had already participated in the ordination and was a genuine Celestial Master's Mansion disciple, a Daoist rather than a Daoist child.

Several other yellow-robed Daoists also arrived.

"The incident today was purely accidental and has nothing to do with everyone. There's no need to worry. First, help treat the injured and dead fellow disciples. The mansion will take care of the aftermath later." The young Daoist spoke gently.

The Daoist children immediately obeyed: "Yes, Daoist Sir."

In the Daoist Child Academy, they call each other senior and junior brothers out of politeness and affection, and they usually attend classes together.

Although the yellow-robed Daoist was the same age as them, he had his own lineage and generation, so the Daoist children couldn't casually call him a senior brother.

No matter how young the Daoist was, when he gave orders, the Daoist children had to obey.

Lei Jun and some others who were not injured immediately began treating the injured.

They started clearing from near the cave mansion and gradually expanded their search outward, looking for any fellow disciples who might have been thrown far by the explosion.

Lei Jun searched for a while in the mountains, treated two injured young Daoist children, and placed them in a flat area, then continued searching.

After searching further, he didn't find anyone, but he discovered a faint glow behind a pile of rocks.

Lei Jun's heart stirred, and he approached to investigate.

The faint glow was a mix of purple-gold and green light.

The green light seemed to be lightning, and because it intertwined with the purple-gold light, it remained for a long time without dissipating.

However, after some time, the green lightning gradually dissipated, leaving only the purple-gold light, which began to emit a dense spiritual energy.

Lei Jun lightly touched it.

The purple-gold light suddenly formed a virtual Lingzhi in the air.

In the next moment, the virtual Lingzhi image merged into Lei Jun's body.

The air was left with abundant spiritual energy and a faint fragrance, making one feel refreshed and invigorated.

Without the need for special cultivation, Lei Jun could already feel his meridians becoming more畅通, and the true qi in his dantian became more active.

He calmed his mind and left the area.

With the genuine Celestial Master's Mansion disciples on the scene to coordinate, the situation gradually calmed down.

As long as they were not injured, the Daoist children continued their evening classes as usual.

Of course, there was no shortage of private discussions among the crowd.

Lei Jun remained calm and returned to his residence after the evening class.

The Celestial Master's Mansion, unlike other places, does not encourage disciples to seek comfort, but it is not stingy with places for cultivation.

Even Daoist children have their own exclusive courtyards to live in, but they must live alone and cannot have family or servants living with them.

In his quiet room, Lei Jun sat cross-legged and quietly practiced breathing and qi circulation.

Upon introspection, he saw threads of golden light emerging from his limbs and bones.

As Lei Jun practiced breathing and qi circulation, these golden lights, originally scattered throughout his body's meridians and acupoints, gathered in his dantian.

A purple-gold virtual Lingzhi appeared again.