Cultivation: Fortune by Lots

In just a mere twenty-odd years, the Celestial Master Mansion had endured countless turmoils, and the Great Tang outside its gates was no different.

In such tides of the era, some drifted like duckweed with the current, while others transformed into wave-riders, each following their own fate—truly, who could say how it would unfold?

*Since things had come to this, he could only hope that more would rise from their sect to stand atop the tide, so that the Celestial Master Mansion, like a ship, might weather the storms...* Du Yu prayed silently in his heart.

Lei Jun walked out of the Tao Boy Court, and happened to run into his familiar fellow disciple, Luo Haoran.

Walking with Luo Haoran was a young girl who looked about fourteen or fifteen.

Lei Jun glanced at her, noting that her real age matched her appearance.

She didn’t seem to have any problems like being possessed by another’s soul.

"Elder Lei," Luo said with a smile, doing a Taoist salute alongside the young girl.

Lei Jun returned the gesture halfway, "Luo, you found a promising seedling?"

Luo replied, "This child’s name is Qin Caiwei, I met her by chance, and felt a strong connection, so I guided her up the mountain to join the Taoist Sect."

According to usual customs, if the girl managed to pass the Transcension Ritual and become a formal transmission disciple of the Celestial Master Mansion, she would cultivate under Luo Haoran’s guidance.

"She has a very solid foundation." Lei Jun looked her up and down again, then smiled at Luo, "Come to think of it, you haven’t taken any disciples yet, have you? So she’s your first."

Luo smiled as well, "Such karmic ties are rare and should be cherished, but also handled with care."

Lei Jun was chatting with him when he suddenly felt a stirring in his heart.

The light sphere in his mind actually flickered at that very moment, revealing some words,

"The old wind sweeps through the sky, the new sprout rises from the eastern mountain."

Soon after, two lots flew out from the light sphere,

"The best lot, reach Xiaoxue Peak at the midstream of the Xinjiang River before noon today for the chance to obtain a third-rank opportunity, currently no risks or future concerns, very auspicious!"

"Perfectly neutral lot, stay at Dragon Tiger Mountain, gain nothing extra nor suffer any loss, peace."

He had actually gotten the best lot?

Lei Jun’s expression remained calm as ever, but *he was inwardly shocked.*

It was nearby, not far outside Dragon Tiger Mountain.

He looked at Luo, deliberately avoiding a glance at the respectfully-standing girl at his side.

But considering the phrase "The old wind sweeps through the sky, the new sprout rises from the eastern mountain," the new sprout likely referred to the girl who seemed perfectly normal in front of him.

Yet there appeared to be nothing wrong with her.

Moreover, the lot drawn was an extremely auspicious best lot, with no current danger and no future hidden threats.

*What was the reason for this?*

Qin Caiwei had already returned to Dragon Tiger Mountain with Luo Haoran today.

Could she still have arranged something while outside?

*Lei Jun found himself speculating wildly, almost tempted to self-reflect whether he was being too prejudiced from the start.*

"Judging by her accent, is she local to Xinzhou?"

Lei Jun smiled and asked, "All the talents in Xinzhou suitable for entering the Taoist Sect have been pretty much swept up by us, haven’t they?"

Luo replied, "That’s why I said, such karmic meetings are rare. I was surprised myself when I first met her on the Xinjiang River."

Lei Jun heard Luo mention the Xinjiang River and thought to himself, as expected.

But referring to the lots, there was only the best lot with no dangers, and one that was perfectly neutral, neither gains nor losses. Although Lei Jun was curious, he suppressed the doubts for now.

As for the newly inducted Tao Boy Qin Caiwei, just brought in to the Tao Boy Court for study, she had already been registered in Elder Lei’s books.

Lei Jun didn’t make any moves right away.

So long as nothing threatened or caused problems, Lei Jun almost never took the initiative to pry into others’ secrets or dig out hidden matters.

After bidding farewell to Luo and Qin Caiwei, Lei Jun looked up to check the time.

There was still a while before noon.

Lei Jun left the Ancestral Courtyard of the Sect, wandering towards the Xiaoxue Peak area in the midstream reaches of the Xinjiang River.

It was deep winter, and, as expected, the mountaintop bore some frozen frost and snow.

But what really caught Lei Jun’s attention was that, at Xiaoxue Peak, there was a mysterious mist shimmering reluctantly, floating upwards into the sky and slowly dispersing.

*No wonder the lot said to come before noon. Apparently, after noon these radiant mists would be all but gone, leaving nothing to harvest.*

He carefully surveyed the surroundings and saw no sign of anyone hiding or approaching.

After a moment’s thought, Lei Jun stepped forward and began collecting the radiant mists.

A certain name surfaced in his mind, 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

"Rising Dome Liuhua"