Cultivation: Fortune by Lots-Chapter 523 - 259. The Latent Powers of the Celestial Master Mansion (Combined Chapter)
As Lei Jun wandered through the vast mountains and rivers of Zhongzhou, he continually recalled the relevant ancient texts he had read.
Ever since Xu Yuanzhen mentioned the land of the Central State in the Foreign Lands that the "Portal" in Great Black Mountain led to, Lei Jun had been intrigued. After returning to Dragon Tiger Mountain, he extensively researched the literary records related to it.
Now that he had arrived in the territory of Zhongzhou, he was conducting on-the-ground inspections and verification.
The terrain and landscape were generally similar on both sides.
The few differences were also understandable.
After all, in this world, aside from the natural transformations of mountains and rivers, landscapes could also be altered by great battles between high-level cultivators, who possessed the power to move mountains and divert waters.
However, there was a significant difference in the flow of Earth Vein Spiritual Qi.
It was as if there were two Mortal Worlds with identical appearances but different interiors.
For a moment, Lei Jun could not help but think of various settings he had read about in novels, and many speculations surfaced in his mind.
After a while, gazing upon the splendid landscape before him, Lei Jun let out a gentle breath, reined in his wandering thoughts, and turned to leave.
He headed south, crossing the Grand River to the Kuanglu Mountains.
Several secret realms and Blessed Land Cave Heavens within the Kuanglu Mountains, which were once private territories of the Jiangzhou Lin Clan, were now under the control of the Celestial Master Mansion.
The resources from the Blessed Land Cave Heavens were largely transported back to the Ancestral Court of Dragon Tiger Mountain.
Disciples from the Celestial Master Mansion were also stationed here to oversee each area.
Due to the successive calamities the Celestial Master Mansion had previously faced, although they were gradually recovering their Primordial Qi, their numbers still appeared thin.
Nowadays, essentially every Talisman-Instructed Disciple was assigned tasks to varying degrees.
The Moon-Gathering Blessed Land in the Kuanglu Mountains, for instance, was overseen by a Celestial Master Mansion heir whom Lei Jun knew.
A young Taoist in a deep red Taoist Robe, accompanied by several transmission disciples in apricot-yellow Taoist Robes and a retinue of gray-robed Tao Boys and attendants, all respectfully greeted Lei Jun, who wore a purple robe.
"’Luo.’ Lei Jun smiled and returned the salutation.
The red-robed Taoist before him was none other than Luo Haoran.
"Elder Lei, this way, please."
In front of other sect members or juniors, Luo Haoran was more mindful of etiquette.
Only when it was just the two of them did Luo Haoran relax a bit. "What brings you to the Moon-Gathering Blessed Land this time? Any specific needs?"
Lei Jun was already a High Merit Elder. Within the sect, he could freely utilize and allocate most resources at his discretion, except for a very few that required reporting to the Celestial Master.
Normally, for any produce from the Moon-Gathering Blessed Land, Lei Jun would simply make a list after returning to the Celestial Master Mansion and send a talisman over. Luo Haoran would then gather the items accordingly.
"I need to occupy the Spirit Star Spring for some time," Lei Jun asked. "Is it convenient at present?"
Luo Haoran replied, "Let me first take some of the spring water and fill some jugs to send back to Dragon Tiger Mountain. That will clear this month’s account early. After that, the remainder is at your convenience for however long you wish."
He smiled. "Having you here, I can leave the Blessed Land and take a stroll on the banks of the Grand River."
Lei Jun commented, "It seems the water level of the Grand River has been relatively calm this summer."
Luo Haoran replied, "Yes, calmer than in previous years, but we still need to wait and see in July and August. If there’s a major flood then, I’ll undoubtedly need your help."
Lei Jun assured, "That’s naturally not a problem."
"I’m just giving a heads-up, just in case," Luo Haoran remarked with a hint of emotion. "Starting a few years ago, the currents of the Grand River actually began to ease. This year, it’s particularly evident. It’s good there’s no major flood—it means fewer calamities for the common people."
Lei Jun silently nodded.
The change in the Grand River’s flow was not noticed by Luo Haoran alone.
As for the reasons behind it, both Lei Jun and Luo Haoran had some conjectures.
In recent years, there had been significant changes in the circulation of the Mountain and River Ley Lines.
On the surface, the changes seemed minor.
But a series of upheavals had occurred at several key points.
First, the Xiao Clan of Longwai and the Bodhi Temple suffered heavy blows.
The Xiao Clan of Longwai was slightly better off; although they had suffered severe losses, their Cultural Pulse was not severed.
The Bodhi Temple, however, was genuinely reduced to ruins, forcing the remaining disciples to choose a new location to establish the Southern Sect.
The disturbances from the previous winter were outrageous.
The ancestral lands of the North and South Lin Clans were ruined simultaneously.
The triggered chain reactions seemed localized at first.
But as time passed, they continued to influence the circulation of the Mountain and River Ley Lines.
Although the Tang Imperial Court still secured the dragon vein’s fortunes, they too had to adapt to the times.
The past relocation of the capital was a result of this.
In the last two years, changes in the earth and water veins became increasingly drastic.
This was why the Grand River’s current flow was somewhat calmer.
This summer, however, brought a continuous stream of incidents.
Events concerning places like the Gao Family in Zezhou hardly warranted mention.
The gates of Pure Yang Palace were breached, and the Ye Clan Ancestral Land in Jinzhou was destroyed even more completely and thoroughly than the ancestral lands of the North and South Lin Clans had been previously.
Following this, there would inevitably be an impact on the circulation of the earth veins.
As for the specific changes, they would only become apparent later.
Luo Haoran was pleased to see that the Grand River no longer overflowed its banks.
But such circumstances were a stroke of luck, not a guarantee.
Because it was difficult to predict beforehand how certain events would affect the changes in the earth’s veins.
An adverse outcome was equally possible, and the probability was not small.
These were true natural disasters, against which human effort could only resist or endure, but not control.
After the two of them, martial brothers, caught up for a while, Luo Haoran left to make arrangements.
The next day, Lei Jun accompanied him to the Spirit Star Spring in the depths of the Moon-Gathering Blessed Land.
There, he saw the water of the spring shimmer with motes of light, like countless stars, brimming with Spiritual Nature.
After Luo Haoran left, Lei Jun stepped directly into the water.
The water of the Spirit Star Spring spread out automatically around his body.
Lei Jun gestured with his finger in the air.
At that moment, the water of the Spirit Star Spring seemed to transform into a paper scroll, soaring into the air and then unfurling.
Lei Jun sat still.
On the scroll formed by the spring water, motes of light interwove, forming characters.
Within Lei Jun’s own eyes, the Heaven-piercing Earth-penetrating Taliscript shone brightly.
In this manner, characters continuously emerged, seemingly inscribed onto the parchment-like surface created by the spring water.
