Chapter 4: The Quality of Opportunities Varies

If given the chance, Lei Jun would rather directly catch up to the grand ceremony of the next year.

Time waits for no one, and cultivation waits for no one even more.

Compared to the novels he read on Earth before his transmigration, the cultivators in this world have some unique characteristics.

While cultivators may possess great abilities and astonishing destructive power, their lifespans are not as long as thousands or tens of thousands of years.

To summarize, they are tough but short-lived.

Short lifespan is a major issue, and another significant problem is decline.

Without achieving immortality, no matter how high the realm or how long the lifespan, cultivators will eventually age and weaken.

Based on the information Lei Jun currently knows, cultivators in this world, unless they continuously improve their realms and extend their lifespan limits, will not become more powerful the older they get.

If they do not break through and improve beyond a certain age, they will lose the hope of progress and gradually weaken, even falling from their current realm.

The image of old immortals with a sage-like demeanor, white hair, and youthful appearance, who can still reach the pinnacle, only exists in two possibilities:

One, compared to their elderly appearance, their current age is actually much lower than their lifespan limit.

Two, they are indeed old now, but when they were young, they were stronger than their current elderly selves.

Therefore, one does not necessarily have to become famous early, but one must make progress early.

The younger one is, the more energetic, the faster the improvement, and the greater the potential.

For Lei Jun, who started cultivation at the age of eighteen, beginning his journey at the Heavenly Master's Mansion, a holy place, was already very fortunate, helping him catch up on lost time.

However, there is less than a year until the grand ceremony at the beginning of next year.

The higher the realm in cultivation, the more difficult and time-consuming it becomes.

Eating only the Purple Gold Lingzhi alone is not enough; more resources are needed... This thought flashed through Lei Jun's mind.

The instructor, unaware of the many thoughts that flashed through the young man's mind, sighed, "When your senior sister introduced you to our Daoist sect and brought you to the Heavenly Master's Mansion, her discernment was truly admirable."

Lei Jun: "Indeed."

Senior Sister, named Xu Yuanzhen.

The instructor before him was not from the same lineage as her.

However, among the senior disciples of the Heavenly Master's Mansion, they generally referred to her as "Senior Sister."

Because Xu Yuanzhen was the foremost disciple of the current Heavenly Master.

Senior Sister is not very old, but her reputation is significant.

Many people outside the Heavenly Master's Mansion call her "Second Heavenly Master."

It was this Second Heavenly Master who brought Lei Jun back to the Heavenly Master's Mansion.

However, she does not seem particularly organized.

She especially likes to wander around, and after bringing Lei Jun back to the mountain, she left again and has not returned.

Lei Jun did not publicize this, deciding to let things take their natural course.

Instructor: "In cultivation, it is good that you are gradually opening up, but remember to balance work and rest, and do not be impatient."

Lei Jun: "Understood."

The instructor nodded in satisfaction.

Lei Jun's rapid progress in cultivation surprised him, but it was not shocking enough to be overly astonished.

Compared to his expectations, the progress was not particularly outstanding.

Mainly, in the neighboring Eighth Division, a new rising star has recently emerged.

After obtaining the Pure Gold Lingzhi, Chen Yi's rapid rise began to attract attention.

However, Lei Jun has heard that many people have been making things difficult for Chen Yi recently.

In the Sixth Division, a few familiar Daoist children were chatting about this matter.

Zhang, a senior brother who had recovered enough to walk and regain his vitality, said mysteriously:

"It's quite simple. I heard he offended a Daoist master on the mountain!"

Lei Jun: "Because of the Pure Gold Lingzhi?"

Zhang: "Yes, I heard they were trying to refine a furnace of immortal pills, but it failed because the Lingzhi platform had dried up and the Pure Gold Lingzhi had disappeared. This time, the Lingzhi platform unexpectedly revived, and a new Pure Gold Lingzhi appeared. Unfortunately, Chen Yi swallowed it. Do you think he wouldn't be hated?"

"The Daoist master in the mansion wouldn't stoop to such a level, right?" a Daoist child beside him hesitated, not so much to defend Chen Yi as to empathize with a fellow sufferer.

Zhang sighed: "The Daoist master wouldn't go to such lengths, but many Daoist children in the Daoist school want to curry favor with him, so they have been targeting Chen Yi."

Lei Jun recalled his initial fortune:

"Medium fortune, do not join the crowd, wait for the right moment, after the upheaval, go to the Lingzhi platform, you can obtain a sixth-grade opportunity, but a tall tree attracts the wind, inviting jealousy and hidden troubles, neutral."

According to Senior Sister Xu Yuanzhen's style, she would only be concerned if a senior elder bullied a junior.

The disputes among the Daoist children would not bother her much.

With her around, if Lei Jun had chosen this medium fortune, he would not have had major troubles, but minor ones were still possible.

It perfectly matched the mixed nature of the medium fortune.

However, now Lei Jun was taking a hands-off approach.

He had heard the gossip, but continued to focus on his own cultivation at his own pace.

Until one evening, the instructor brought a young Daoist to Lei Jun's small courtyard.

"This is Wang Guiyuan, Junior Brother Wang, a disciple of Uncle Yuan."

The instructor introduced: "Uncle Yuan has a letter for you."

"Uncle Yuan?" Lei Jun's heart stirred.

Uncle Yuan, Xu Yuanzhen's junior uncle.

The current Heavenly Master's junior brother.

Hearing that the young Daoist before him was his disciple, Lei Jun felt a bit melancholic.

Generally, the Daoist children in the Daoist school at the foot of the mountain, if allowed to participate in the initiation ceremony, would mostly have a clear idea of who their future master would be.

The immortal who initially guided the Daoist children to Longhu Mountain would, barring any major accidents, become their formal master after they officially become Daoists.

The Heavenly Master's Mansion values lineage, and what is known as immortal fate is often a direct line.

But Lei Jun encountered an exception.

When he first came to Longhu Mountain with Senior Sister Xu Yuanzhen, they arrived at the Daoist school at the foot of the mountain, and Xu Yuanzhen casually asked someone:

"Has the master been in seclusion for almost ten years and not come out yet?"

"The Heavenly Master has not come out of seclusion..."

Xu Yuanzhen: "Where did Junior Uncle lecture before?"

The person was confused: "Uncle Yuan has also been in seclusion recently, but I heard he went to the Sixth Division before..."

"Then we will go to the Sixth Division."

Upon arrival, Xu Yuanzhen pointed to Lei Jun and instructed the on-duty instructor:

"He was introduced to the Daoist path by me. I have no intention of taking a disciple, but he is still one of mine. Take care of him and make sure no one bullies him."

Instructor: "... Senior Sister, based on your previous disciple, please advise them not to bully others."

Xu Yuanzhen: "One bullying a group?"

The person smiled bitterly.

Xu Yuanzhen: "I have something to do, I'll leave. Greet Junior Uncle when he comes out of seclusion."

Then she left, leaving Lei Jun and the instructor staring at each other.

Fortunately, Lei Jun did not need to go through any further screening or assessment, and no one investigated his background.

Since Senior Sister Xu Yuanzhen introduced him to the Daoist path, it seemed that everything was her responsibility.

Thus, from that day on, Lei Jun became a proud... Daoist child in the Heavenly Master's Mansion, one of the three major holy places of the Daoist world and the ancestral temple of the Talisman Sect.

Afterward, Lei Jun studied in the Daoist school, initially touching upon the cultivation of Daoist arts, finding it interesting and immersing himself in it.

But he never saw the sequestered Junior Uncle, let alone the current Heavenly Master.

Until today.

The disciple of Uncle Yuan, the young Daoist named Wang Guiyuan, appeared.

He looked to be around thirty, unremarkable in appearance, but his apricot-yellow Daoist robe indicated his status as a true disciple of the Heavenly Master's Mansion.

He was friendly: "A few days ago, an accident occurred at Master Du's cave, and some Daoist children rushed to help treat the injured, including you, Lei Jun, right?"

Lei Jun: "It was a coincidence. The mansion often teaches us to be friendly to our fellow disciples, and we all remember this."

"Very good, very good." The instructor smiled and nodded.

After introducing both parties, he left without staying longer.

Wang Guiyuan then said warmly: "My master has been in seclusion, and I have been by his side. We only came out of seclusion two days ago.

Senior Sister's thoughts are already known to my master after he came out of seclusion.

He originally wanted to meet you in person, but unfortunately, the mansion has just opened a new cave heaven and blessed land outside the mountain, which is unfamiliar and complex, requiring exploration and stabilization. My master was invited to go there after coming out of seclusion."

As he spoke, he took out a letter:

"However, before leaving, my master specifically wrote a letter for you."